Resident doctors to begin five-day nationwide strike September 12
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced it will embark on a five-day nationwide warning strike.
The action is to press for the fulfillment of outstanding salary and welfare demands.
According to Punch, the industrial action is scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, September 12, 2025, and will run until Tuesday, September 16, 2025.
The decision was confirmed in a statement issued by NARD on Thursday.
The strike was resolved after an online National Executive Council (E-NEC) meeting held on Wednesday, September 10, 2025.
The meeting extended into the early hours of Thursday.
Agbor Affiong, General Secretary of NARD’s Federal Capital Territory chapter, said NEC members “unanimously resolved to embark on a five-day warning strike.”
He added that all centres were directed to notify their hospital management.
“After extensive deliberations at the NARD E-NEC meeting held on Wednesday, September 10, and concluded on Thursday, September 11, members unanimously resolved to embark on a five-day warning strike.
“All centres are hereby directed to notify their hospital managements accordingly,” the statement read in part.
The planned strike coincides with ongoing industrial action by resident doctors in Abuja and Oyo State.
It also follows the expiration of a 10-day ultimatum earlier issued to relevant government agencies over unmet demands.
Osundara Zenith, NARD President, had previously warned that members were prepared to shut down public hospitals.
He cited “poor working conditions, power shortages, downgrading of certificates, and inadequate remuneration” as reasons.
In a communiqué issued on September 1, 2025, the association demanded immediate payment of the outstanding 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund.
It also called for the settlement of five months’ arrears from the 25–35 per cent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) review, along with other long-standing salary backlogs.
Other demands include payment of the 2024 accoutrement allowance arrears and prompt disbursement of specialist allowances.
The doctors also want the restoration of recognition of West African postgraduate membership certificates by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).
Following a six-hour deliberation, the association said it gave the government 24 hours to meet some of its key demands.
“After a six-hour deliberation, we decided to give the government the next 24 hours to ensure the disbursement of the Medical Residency Training Fund to beneficiaries, for the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to upgrade our membership certificates, and to attend to our other demands.
“If there is no payment by today (Thursday), then tomorrow (Friday), we will start the strike immediately.”
