The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on Saturday has announced plans to resume its Total, Indefinite, and Complete Strike on Monday, January 12, 2026, citing the Federal Government’s failure to implement previously agreed demands.
The decision follows an Emergency National Executive Council (E-NEC) meeting held on Friday, where the association expressed frustration over the government’s inaction on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with resident doctors last November.
NARD said the renewed strike will include centre-based protests across hospitals nationwide and is part of a campaign titled “No Implementation, No Going Back.”
In a statement shared on X, signed by NARD President Dr. Mohammad Suleiman, the association said: “The National Officers’ Committee appreciates your patience, resilience, and continued support in our collective struggle for doctors’ welfare. Following the E-NEC meeting, the NEC resolved to resume TICS 2.0 tagged ‘No Implementation, No Going Back’ with effect from 12th January 2026 by 12:00 am. NEC has also directed centre-based protests from 12th to 16th January, 2026.”
The association said the strike will continue until all outstanding demands are fully met, including the reinstatement of five resident doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, payment of promotion and salary arrears, and full implementation of the professional allowance table with arrears captured in the 2026 budget.
Other demands include the reintroduction of the specialist allowance, resolution of house officers’ salary delays, re-categorisation and issuance of membership certificates after Part I examinations by the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, and the resumption and timely conclusion of the Collective Bargaining Agreement process.
NARD explained that the one-week window before the strike is intended to allow centre presidents to hold congress meetings, engage with the media, and notify relevant security agencies, including the police, the DSS, and hospital managements.
The association warned that nationwide medical services could be severely disrupted if the government fails to meet its demands, signalling a tense start to the new year for Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
