Resident doctors set to resume strike

The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced plans to resume its Total, Indefinite and Complete Strike (TICS 2.0) on January 12, 2026, citing the Federal Government’s failure to implement agreements made in a previously signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The association disclosed the update in a statement shared on X, signed by its President, Dr Mohammad Suleiman, following an Emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Friday.

NARD warned that the country could face another nationwide disruption of medical services if its demands are not met. The planned industrial action has been tagged “No Implementation, No Going Back.”

According to the statement, the strike will begin at 12:00 a.m. on January 12 unless the government meets outstanding demands. In addition, the NEC directed presidents of all 91 NARD centres nationwide to hold congress meetings and address the media, with 91 press conferences scheduled within seven days to highlight doctors’ welfare concerns.

The association also announced centre-based protests from January 12 to 16, to be followed by regional and national demonstrations, if necessary.

NARD’s demands include 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 cover specialist and house officers’ allowances, timely pay advisories, membership certification after exams, locum and work-hours regulations, and the completion of the Collective Bargaining Agreement process.

The one-week window before the strike is intended to allow proper congress meetings, media engagements, and statutory notifications to security agencies, including the Department of State Services, police, and hospital managements.

“The NOC appreciates the guidance of NEC and assures all members of full commitment to these resolutions. Engagements will be intensified in the coming days,” the statement added.