Nigerian Resident Doctors Suspend National Strike as Government Reverses Stance on Professional Allowances

NARD suspends its national strike after the government agrees to address professional allowances and salary arrears. Doctors resume duties April 8, 2026.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 7, 2026, 8:59 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Agency Report

Termination of Industrial Action and Return to Service

The healthcare landscape in Nigeria is set to stabilize following the suspension of a nationwide strike by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD). On Tuesday, the Association of Resident Doctors at the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, confirmed that its members would return to their posts at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday. This resumption of duty marks the end of an indefinite industrial action that had previously paralyzed several tertiary health institutions across the country, as doctors align with a national directive to restore medical services.

Key Concessions and Government Commitments

The decision to cease the strike followed an Extraordinary National Executive Council meeting where NARD leadership evaluated recent negotiations with the Federal Government. A primary factor in the suspension was the government's agreement to reverse its previous stance on revised professional allowances, a central point of contention for the medical body. Furthermore, the executive branch has offered renewed commitments to address other lingering grievances, including the prompt disbursement of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund and the settlement of outstanding promotion and salary arrears.

Phased Resumption Protocols at University College Hospital

At the local level in Ibadan, Dr. Uthman Adedeji, the ARD UCH President, outlined a structured handover process to ensure patient safety during the transition back to full capacity. Until the official 8:00 a.m. resumption on Wednesday, no new patients, including emergency cases, will be admitted to the facility. This window is being utilized by resident doctors to properly transition existing patients on admission to consultants. While stable patients may be discharged, special provisions have been made for doctors managing critically ill individuals to continue care beyond the standard handover period.