The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has declared a nationwide warning strike beginning Friday morning.
The strike is a result of the failure of the federal government to meet the demands of the association at the expiration of its ultimatum.
The association had given the federal government a 10-day ultimatum to meet its outstanding demands, which elapsed on Wednesday night. It then extended it by 24 hours after the government assured the demands would be met.
“Unfortunately, the minimum demands were not met within the given extension of 24hrs period and the strike commenced this morning as directed by the NEC of the association”, Zenith Osundare, president of NARD, said in a statement to BusinessDay.
Read also: Strike: Resident doctors give FG 24 hours to meet demands after talks
Resident doctors, who make up the bulk of Nigeria’s hospital workforce, are demanding immediate payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), a scheme designed to support specialist medical training, alongside reforms at the MDCN and settlement of outstanding allowances.
Read also: Resident doctors in FCT kick off a one-week strike
According to NARD, a significant number of doctors are still awaiting payment of their 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), while five months’ arrears arising from the 25–35 per cent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) review remain outstanding. Arrears of the 2024 Accoutrement Allowance have also not been paid.
The doctors also criticised the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) for downgrading membership certificates issued by the West African Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons, and faulted the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN) for delays in issuing certificates to successful candidates.
