Hospitals across Nigeria have resumed normal operations following the suspension of a planned nationwide strike by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), bringing relief to patients and healthcare workers.
The strike, which was set to begin on Tuesday, was called off after last-minute interventions by the Federal Government, including engagements led by Vice President Kashim Shettima and senior health and labour officials.
In a statement issued by its leadership, NARD said the decision to suspend the industrial action was reached after extensive deliberations by its National Executive Council, citing ongoing negotiations with the government.
The association, however, issued a two-week ultimatum to authorities to address key demands, including salary arrears, delayed promotions, unpaid allowances, and the release of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund.
It also called for the immediate reinstatement of the revised Professional Allowance Table, warning that failure to meet its demands within the stipulated period would result in the resumption of the strike without further notice.
Across hospitals, patients and staff welcomed the development, noting that the absence of resident doctors would have severely disrupted healthcare delivery. Medical professionals described resident doctors as the backbone of hospital operations, particularly in managing routine and emergency cases.
At facilities such as Jos University Teaching Hospital and the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, services continued with minimal disruption, though some outpatient services were briefly affected.
NARD urged its members nationwide to remain calm and committed while awaiting the government’s response, maintaining that while the strike has been suspended, its demands remain unresolved.
