30-11-2025
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its indefinite strike, 29 days after it began on November 1.
NARD national president, Mohammad Suleiman, announced the suspension on Saturday via his X handle @mohagirei, after an extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the association.
Mr Suleiman said the decision followed “a series of conciliatory meetings” with the federal government.
This, he said, culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which outlined the status of the association’s 19-point demands.
He explained that among the outstanding issues was the payment of promotion arrears.
Mr Suleiman also said that compilation of the arrears by chief medical directors and managing directors had not been completed, although a four-week deadline had been set for payment.
Mr Suleiman said the NEC resolved to suspend the strike for four weeks “to allow room and show this uncommon gesture while we follow up on implementation.
“Progress has been made, significantly, and this is simply because of the efforts and convictions of NARDites across the country.
“Mistakes have also been made. Kindly rest those mistakes solely on my shoulders as president.”
He added that the next phase would involve sustained engagement with Nigerians and the federal government during the four-week window.
“Failure to ensure the full implementation of the above A, B, C, D, will mean the lifting of the suspension on the strike action by NEC and the resumption of the strike.
“The countdown for the four weeks shall start on Monday and shall be a daily reminder to Nigerians and the Federal Government to adequately use this ‘four weeks window’ justly and fully,” he said.
The November 1 strike—NARD’s latest in a series of industrial actions—was embarked on over unpaid arrears, stalled promotions, allowances, staffing gaps and other welfare-related grievances. NAN
