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The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has embarked on an indefinite nationwide strike following the expiration of a 30-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Government. NARD President, Dr. Mohammad Suleiman, announced the development in a statement released on the association’s official X account on Saturday, lamenting that the government’s repeated failure to fulfil its promises had left doctors with no other choice. According to him, the strike was a painful but necessary step after several rounds of dialogue, appeals, and ultimatums failed to yield concrete action. “We wish to address you at this critical time as we embark on a total, comprehensive, and indefinite strike, a decision that did not come lightly, nor was it ever our desire,” Suleiman said. “We are fully aware of the pains and inconveniences that accompany any disruption in healthcare services, and we deeply regret the situation.” He emphasized that the association’s demands were not politically driven but rooted in the survival of Nigeria’s health system and the welfare of both medical professionals and patients. “Our demands are not selfish, neither are they politically motivated. They are genuine, germane, and patriotic centered on the survival of the Nigerian health system and the well-being of every citizen who depends on it,” Suleiman stated. He decried the poor working conditions of doctors, describing them as overworked, underpaid, and mentally drained a situation that, he warned, threatens the quality of care delivered to patients. “A resident doctor who is overworked, underpaid, and mentally exhausted cannot offer optimal care to the patient who needs them most,” he said. The association’s key demands include fair remuneration, payment of arrears, improved working conditions, adequate staffing, and the provision of essential medical infrastructure. “A nation’s health system can only be as strong as the hands that sustain it. If the doctors are broken, under-motivated, or forced to seek survival abroad, the patients suffer most,” he added. “This is why we have taken this painful stand to secure the future of Nigerian healthcare for every man, woman, and child who deserves quality care here at home.” Suleiman called on Nigerians to support the doctors’ cause, urging civil society groups, labour unions, and religious and traditional leaders to pressure the government into meeting their demands. “This is not a fight between resident doctors and the government; it is a struggle for a functional, just, and humane healthcare system,” he said. “Together, we can rebuild a system that values both the carer and the cared-for. We appeal to all Nigerians to weigh in and urge the government to act urgently so hospitals can reopen and doctors can return to their duty posts.” Earlier, the Association of Resident Doctors in Abuja had declared support for NARD’s strike, citing unfulfilled promises by the Federal Capital Territory Administration on their own peculiar challenges. NARD had last week announced plans to commence the strike on Saturday, November 1, 2025, following unmet demands despite repeated warnings.
