The industrial action declared by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, which takes effect today, April 7, 2026, is already posing a serious threat to healthcare services in government-owned hospitals across the country.
Since the administration of Bola Tinubu began, resident doctors have cumulatively spent 51 days on strike, sparking renewed concerns about the government’s commitment to honouring agreements with health workers.
The figure covers two major strikes and a warning action between 2023 and 2025, as doctors once again down tools over unresolved issues, including unpaid allowances and policy changes.
At the centre of the latest dispute is the Federal Government’s reported suspension of the revised Professional Allowance Table, a critical part of the agreement that ended the 2025 strike.
Reacting to the development, NARD described the decision as “unfortunate,” accusing authorities of forcing doctors into yet another avoidable industrial action.
Following deliberations, the association’s National Executive Council approved what it called a “total and comprehensive strike.”
Among its demands are the immediate reinstatement of the allowance table, payment of outstanding promotion and salary arrears, settlement of 19 months’ unpaid allowances, and the release of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund.
