Doctor
By Olayiwola Mercy
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has commenced a nationwide indefinite strike over unmet demands, effective midnight on Saturday, November 1, 2025. The strike follows the Federal Government’s failure to meet the doctors’ 19-point demands, including payment of outstanding salary arrears, improved working conditions, and adequate staffing. Resident doctors across the country are participating in the strike, with the Association of Resident Doctors in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (ARD-FCTA) declaring a separate indefinite strike over local demands, including unpaid salaries since 2023 and delayed promotions.
The resident doctors are demanding a 200% increase in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), full implementation of new allowances proposed in July 2022, and immediate recruitment of clinical staff. They also want the removal of bureaucratic bottlenecks hindering the replacement of exiting doctors and the payment of specialist allowances. The doctors argue that their demands are not selfish but rather a struggle for a functional, just, and humane healthcare system .
The strike is expected to cause widespread disruptions to healthcare services in public hospitals nationwide. Patients may not receive specialists’ care, and those who visit private hospitals may be forced to pay more for services. The resident doctors are calling on stakeholders and well-meaning Nigerians to support their struggle for a better healthcare system. They emphasize that their struggle is not against the government or Nigerians but rather for a system that values both the people who provide care and those who receive it.
The Federal Government had earlier given the doctors a 30-day ultimatum to resolve the issues, but the association claims that the government has shown no political will to meet its commitments. The strike may continue indefinitely until the government demonstrates a genuine commitment to addressing the doctors’ demands.
