The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has announced an indefinite nationwide strike following the federal government’s move to halt the implementation of the revised professional allowance table, setting the stage for another major disruption in the nation’s healthcare system. The association’s secretary general, Shuaibu Ibrahim, disclosed the decision after the association held a virtual extraordinary national executive council meeting on Saturday, stating that the strike is scheduled to commence at 12:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7.
Ibrahim described the development as “unfortunate,” accusing the federal government of pushing doctors toward another round of industrial action. “The national executive council was informed about the federal government’s decision to remove the professional allowance table, a development deemed unfortunate. Following extensive deliberations, the NEC resolved to embark on a total industrial and comprehensive strike beginning at 12:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7, 2026,” he said.
The dispute follows the implementation of a revised professional allowance table previously agreed upon by NARD and the federal government after a prolonged strike in 2025. The agreement provided for improved remuneration for resident doctors, including call duty allowances, shift allowances, rural posting incentives, and payments for non clinical duties. While implementation was initially slated for January 2026 and later moved to February, NARD alleged that the government now plans to discontinue the process by April, a move the association said undermines trust and breaches earlier agreements.
From an economic perspective, strikes by resident doctors impose significant costs on Nigeria’s healthcare system and the broader economy. Resident doctors form the backbone of clinical services in federal and state teaching hospitals, providing essential care in emergency departments, intensive care units, and general wards. Their withdrawal disrupts patient care, forces the closure of outpatient clinics, postpones elective surgeries, and redirects emergency patients to already overstretched private facilities. For patients requiring urgent care, particularly those from low income households, the strike can have life threatening consequences.
The timing of the strike is particularly concerning given the existing pressures on Nigeria’s healthcare system. The country continues to grapple with a shortage of doctors, with many having left for overseas opportunities in recent years. Resident doctors, who are in training for specialty certification, represent a critical pipeline for the future consultant workforce. Prolonged industrial action not only disrupts current patient care but also delays the training of the next generation of specialists, creating longer term capacity constraints.
NARD is demanding an immediate reversal of the decision to cease implementation of the professional allowance table starting in April 2026, along with the payment of all outstanding entitlements. “We demand the reversal of the decision to cease the implementation of the PAT starting in April 2026,” Ibrahim said. “There must be immediate payment of promotion arrears and salary arrears for specific centres, as well as the prompt conclusion of the process of paying the 2026 medical residency training fund. We also insist on the immediate processing and payment of the outstanding 19 months’ arrears of the professional allowance.”
The dispute reflects a broader pattern of recurring industrial action in Nigeria’s health sector. Resident doctors have embarked on multiple strikes over the years, with grievances ranging from poor remuneration to inadequate working conditions and delayed payments. Each strike typically ends with a memorandum of understanding that addresses some demands while deferring others, only for unresolved issues to resurface months later. The current dispute, arising from the government’s alleged decision to discontinue implementation of a previously agreed allowance table, suggests that trust between the parties remains fragile.
The federal government’s stance on the professional allowance table is not yet clear from public statements. However, NARD’s claim that the government plans to discontinue implementation by April indicates a significant shift from earlier commitments. The government may be facing fiscal constraints that make it difficult to sustain the allowance payments, or there may be disagreements about the interpretation of the original agreement. Whatever the government’s rationale, the strike notice signals that NARD views the issue as non negotiable.
The association also urged its members across the country to remain united and see the action through to a “logical conclusion.” This language suggests that NARD leadership anticipates the strike could be prolonged and is preparing members for an extended work stoppage. The success of the strike will depend on solidarity across the country’s many teaching hospitals and federal medical centres, as well as the willingness of members to withstand any government measures to compel resumption.
For patients and their families, the strike notice brings anxiety and uncertainty. Those scheduled for surgeries, cancer treatments, or other time sensitive procedures face the prospect of delays or cancellations. Pregnant women approaching delivery dates may worry about access to emergency obstetric care. Families of patients in intensive care units may fear the impact of reduced medical supervision. The human cost of the strike, should it proceed, will be measured in suffering and, potentially, lives lost.
The association also insists on the immediate processing and payment of the outstanding 19 months’ arrears of the professional allowance, a demand that suggests the dispute has been simmering for an extended period. The government’s alleged decision to discontinue implementation may have been the trigger for the strike, but the underlying grievances about unpaid arrears have likely been building for months.
As the Tuesday deadline approaches, the ball is in the government’s court. The Minister of Health, the Ministry of Labour, and the federal government’s negotiating team face pressure to engage with NARD urgently to avert the strike. If the government can provide credible assurances about the continuation of the allowance table and a clear timeline for payment of arrears, there may still be room for a last minute resolution. If not, Nigerian patients will once again bear the burden of a healthcare system unable to retain and motivate its most essential workers.
