Nigerian Resident Doctors Suspend Strike, Give Government Two-Week Ultimatum

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has called off its five-day warning strike but has issued the Federal Government a new two-week deadline to resolve its remaining demands.

NARD President, Dr. Tope Osundara, announced the suspension in a statement on Saturday, September 13th, citing “goodwill” towards Nigerians seeking healthcare. The doctors are set to return to work on Sunday, September 14th.

This decision follows a series of escalating actions by the union, which began with a 21-day ultimatum in July, a 10-day extension, and a final 24-hour notice before the strike commenced on September 12th.

In a joint communiqué, the NARD leadership stated the suspension is intended to provide the government a final window to address critical issues.

The association emphasized that its choice was influenced by the hardship faced by patients in the current difficult economic climate.

Outstanding demands include: immediate payment of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund, settlement of five months of arrears from a 25–35% salary review (CONMESS), payment of outstanding 2024 accoutrement allowances, and timely release of specialist allowances.

NARD also issued a separate 15-day ultimatum to the Oyo State Government concerning welfare issues for doctors at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, threatening an indefinite solidarity strike if no action is taken.

The association noted that resident doctors in state-owned hospitals may continue their own strikes until their local governments demonstrate a genuine commitment to resolving disputes.

The recently suspended strike had significantly disrupted services at public hospitals across the country, increasing the workload for consultants and other health workers and leading to long waiting times for patients.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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