The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its strike, 29 days after it began, following the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Government. The announcement was made on Saturday by the NARD President, Dr. Mohammed Suleiman, after an extraordinary meeting of the association’s National Executive Council (NEC).
Dr. Suleiman said the strike, which commenced on 1 November, was suspended to allow the Federal Government four weeks to meet key outstanding demands.
In a statement on X, he explained that the decision followed “a series of conciliatory meetings” with government officials during which both sides reviewed the status of NARD’s 19-point demands. He warned that the strike would resume if there was no full implementation within the agreed timeframe.
One major issue discussed was the payment of promotion arrears. Dr. Suleiman noted that Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) and Managing Directors (MDs) had yet to finalise the compilation of figures, but a four-week deadline had now been set under the MoU.
He added that salary arrears were also expected to be cleared within the same period. On the specialist allowance, he said the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) had issued a directive, with the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission expected to implement it.
Dr. Suleiman further disclosed that the report on the “Lokoja Five”—resident doctors disengaged from the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja—recommended their reabsorption. Implementation of the directive is expected within two weeks.
He said NARD and the Federal Government were also concluding processes to resolve failed or omitted payments relating to the 25/35 per cent review and accoutrement allowance. He added that centre leaders were still expected to submit lists of residents due for upgrade, even as the Post-Assessment Tool (PAT) had already been released.
According to him, the issues of skipping and entry-level placement had been settled following a directive from the OHCSF, while all matters affecting house officers had also been resolved.
He added that an interim directive had been issued to CMDs and MDs to halt what NARD described as “obnoxious clauses” in locum engagements. Hospital managements were also advised to reduce excessive call duties and ensure doctors receive adequate rest.
Committees reviewing the locum policy and work-hour regulations are expected to submit comprehensive policy documents within two months. He said work on the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the consultant cadre for other health workers, and the activities of the special pensions committee would resume shortly.
Dr. Suleiman said the NEC resolved to suspend the strike “as an uncommon gesture”, acknowledging progress made so far. He added that the next four weeks would involve “sustained engagement” with the government and the Nigerian public. He warned that if the agreed issues were not implemented in full, the suspension would be lifted and the strike resumed.
The 1 November strike was the latest in a series of industrial actions by resident doctors, who have long complained about unpaid arrears, stalled promotions, unsettled allowances and chronic staffing shortages in federal hospitals.
