The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has embarked on an indefinite nationwide strike, effective 12:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 1, 2025, accusing the federal government of failing to address a 19-point list of demands described as its “minimum expectations.”
The President of NARD, Dr. Muhammad Suleiman, announced the decision at a press briefing in Abuja after a five-hour emergency National Executive Council meeting. He said doctors had endured years of neglect, with unpaid allowances dating as far back as 10 years and no salary review in 16 years.
“The federal government owes medical personnel about ₦38 billion in accumulated allowances and arrears”, he said, bemoaning poor funding, manpower shortage and general decay of hospitals across the country.
The key demands of the NARD include the immediate payment of outstanding 25–35% CONMESS arrears, payment of all pending entitlements, reinstatement of five dismissed resident doctors from the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, and enhancement of working conditions to globally accepted standards.
It also wants the association to fast-track the completion of the Collective Bargaining Agreement on salary review, enforcement of salary relativity between medical and health workers, and implementation of agreed pension benefits.
Dr. Suleiman appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene personally to prevent what he described as the imminent collapse of Nigeria’s healthcare system.
In solidarity, the Association of Resident Doctors under the Federal Capital Territory Administration declared an indefinite strike, starting from the same date, citing unresolved welfare and administrative issues.
In a letter to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, leaders of ARD-FCTA said they would continue their strike independent of NARD until all local concerns which include unpaid salary arrears, new recruitment, and release of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund are sorted out.
The strike will therefore paralyze healthcare services across the country, as resident doctors form the core of Nigeria’s hospital workforce, and leave thousands of patients stranded.
