Resident Doctors Declare Indefinite Nationwide Strike Starting November 1

Nigeria’s public health sector faces yet another looming paralysis as the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has declared an indefinite nationwide strike, set to begin at midnight on November 1. The decision, announced on October 27, 2025, comes amid growing frustration over years of unfulfilled government promises and an estimated ₦38 billion in unpaid allowances owed to healthcare workers.

NARD President, Dr. Muhammad Suleiman, described the move as a “painful but necessary step,” saying doctors have been left with no other choice. Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, he explained that the strike was not just about resident doctors but about all categories of health professionals, including administrative staff. “The burden has become unbearable,” he said, as he detailed a long list of unresolved grievances that reflect deep systemic neglect.

The association’s decision follows a five-day warning strike held on September 14, which was suspended after assurances from the government. However, those promises have gone unfulfilled. After reviewing the situation in a virtual meeting on October 25, NARD concluded that the government had shown “no genuine commitment” to addressing the issues.

Among the key demands are unpaid arrears dating back between four and ten years for some workers; five months of pending payments from the 25% and 35% Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) review; the unpaid 2024 accoutrement allowance; and the failure to review doctors’ basic salaries in over 16 years. The association also cited unpaid promotion arrears since 2021 and the government’s failure to implement the “one-for-one replacement policy,” which would replace departing medical staff. This, NARD said, has worsened the strain on remaining doctors, who now work exhausting hours as many colleagues leave the country in search of better opportunities abroad. Additionally, medical interns continue to be excluded from the civil service structure, depriving them of pension and welfare benefits.

Hospitals nationwide are already feeling the pressure. NARD highlighted cases such as Benue State University Teaching Hospital, where doctors are owed up to 18 months in salary arrears, and the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, where some members are owed between four and eight months. The strike threatens to deepen the crisis, leaving public hospitals severely understaffed and millions of Nigerians without access to medical care.

As the countdown to the strike continues, the situation underscores the growing collapse of Nigeria’s healthcare system. Behind the statistics are patients whose lives hang in the balance, dependent on a system that is struggling to survive. With doctors set to withdraw their services, the government faces a critical test — not only to resolve the financial disputes but to act swiftly enough to prevent another devastating breakdown in the nation’s healthcare delivery.