Nigeria’s healthcare system is set for another major disruption as the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has declared a total and indefinite strike beginning midnight on Tuesday, April 7.
The decision was reached during an Extraordinary National Executive Council meeting held virtually on April 4, where the association accused the Federal Government of Nigeria of triggering an avoidable industrial crisis.
NARD strongly condemned the government’s decision to discontinue the Professional Allowance Table (PAT), describing the move as “unfortunate” and unjustifiable. The association warned that the action threatens both the welfare of doctors and the stability of the nation’s already fragile health sector.
At the core of the dispute is the removal of the PAT, a key component of doctors’ remuneration. The association is demanding an immediate reversal of the policy, alongside the payment of outstanding financial obligations owed to its members.
Among its demands, NARD is calling for the settlement of promotion and salary arrears affecting doctors across various centres, the immediate completion of payments under the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund, and the clearance of 19 months’ outstanding Professional Allowance arrears.
In a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Shuaibu Ibrahim, the association urged members nationwide to remain united, stressing that the strike is necessary to address what it described as persistent injustice.
The planned industrial action has raised fresh concerns over access to healthcare services across the country, as patients are likely to bear the brunt if urgent dialogue between NARD and the government fails to resolve the impasse.
