The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has declared an indefinite nationwide strike, set to begin at midnight on April 7, 2026, over unresolved pay issues and an alleged breach of agreement by the federal government.
The decision followed an Extraordinary National Executive Council meeting, during which the union accused the government of planning to halt the implementation of the revised Professional Allowance Table (PAT) – a key component of agreements reached after the association’s 2025 industrial action.
NARD’s President, Mr. Shuaibu Ibrahim, described the development as a violation of prior commitments, warning that the move undermines trust between doctors and the government.
The disputed allowance structure includes payments for call duties, shift work, rural postings, and non-clinical responsibilities, forming a significant part of resident doctors’ remuneration. Although implementation was initially scheduled for January 2026 and later shifted to February, the union alleged that plans to discontinue the process by April have triggered the current industrial action.
The doctors are demanding an immediate reversal of the decision, alongside payment of outstanding salary arrears, promotion arrears, and the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund. They also called for the settlement of 19 months’ outstanding arrears tied to the Professional Allowance.
“We also insist on the immediate processing and payment of the outstanding 19 months’ arrears of the Professional Allowance,” Ibrahim said. “The NARD leadership calls on its members to unite in the fight against this injustice and to pursue it to a logical conclusion.”
The strike is expected to disrupt healthcare services across public hospitals nationwide, highlighting ongoing tensions over worker compensation and welfare in Nigeria’s health sector. The development underscores broader concerns about compliance with labour agreements in the public sector, particularly in critical services where disputes over pay and working conditions often lead to service disruptions.
