The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has raised the alarm over a possible nationwide shutdown of medical services, citing the Federal Government’s failure to implement a Memorandum of Understanding reached with the association.
In a statement titled “Urgent Appeal to Avert a Looming Nationwide NARD Strike (TICS 2.0)” and shared on X on Sunday, NARD’s Secretary-General, Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim, said the country was on the brink of another total and indefinite strike if the government continued to ignore the agreement.
According to the association, the MoU was signed after resident doctors suspended a 29-day industrial action on November 29, with the government pledging to meet key demands within four weeks.
“The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors stands on the brink of another nationwide industrial action — a Total and Indefinite Comprehensive Strike,” Ibrahim said.
“This is a direct consequence of the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Government’s failure to honour the MoU freely entered into with NARD.”
He described the situation as troubling for both healthcare delivery and trust between professionals and the government.
“This development is deeply distressing, not only because of its implications for healthcare services, but because it represents a breakdown of trust, sincerity and good faith in government–professional relations,” he added.
NARD explained that after suspending its initial strike, it issued several ultimatums to the government, including a two-week notice and subsequent extensions of 30 days and seven days, all of which elapsed without what it described as meaningful engagement.
“Today marks the 31st day after the signing of the MoU, yet there has been no visible or substantive progress on its implementation,” the association said. “In this context, resident doctors should not be blamed if industrial action resumes.”
The doctors warned that failure to act could lead to a renewed shutdown of services across tertiary hospitals nationwide, affecting millions of patients.
“Resident doctors form the backbone of service delivery in Nigeria’s tertiary hospitals,” Ibrahim said.
“They are overworked, increasingly demoralised, and continue to bear the brunt of a system that treats agreements on their welfare with levity.”
The association appealed to senior medical professionals and respected elders in the health sector to intervene, saying their influence could compel the government to act and avert another healthcare crisis.
“We humbly but urgently appeal to you to prevail on the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Government to take immediate and visible steps to honour the MoU,” the statement said.
“Your timely intervention can still prevent an avoidable disruption to healthcare services and restore confidence in dialogue.”
As of the time of filing this report, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare had not issued an official response to the warning.
