The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced its intention to initiate a nationwide strike, set to begin at 12:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. This decision follows the federal government’s suspension of the implementation of the Professional Allowance Table (PAT) and its failure to fulfill longstanding financial obligations to the association’s members.
The announcement was made in a communiqué issued after a virtual National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on April 4. NARD’s Secretary-General, Shuaibu Ibrahim, described the government’s decision regarding the PAT as “unfortunate” and a significant setback for the welfare of resident doctors.
In the communiqué, NARD outlined several key demands that it expects the federal government to address in order to consider suspending the strike. These demands include:
1. An immediate reversal of the decision to discontinue the PAT from April 2026.
2. Payment of promotion and salary arrears owed to doctors in affected centers.
3. A prompt conclusion of the disbursement process for the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF).
4. Immediate payment of outstanding arrears of the professional allowance, which has accumulated over the past 19 months.
NARD has called on its members to unite in opposing what they perceive as injustices and to ensure that their concerns are adequately addressed.
This planned strike adds to a growing list of industrial actions that have plagued Nigeria’s public health sector in recent years. Last year, NARD conducted a nationwide strike that lasted 29 days before being suspended following negotiations with the federal government. Earlier this year, they engaged in another industrial action over delayed salaries and arrears, underscoring ongoing disputes regarding allowances and remuneration for medical professionals.
