Posted on: Wed 05-08-2026

The threat of a nationwide indefinite strike by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) appears to have eased following a high-level intervention meeting convened by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The three-hour meeting brought together key Federal Government officials, including the Ministers of Labour, Health and Finance, the Director-General of the Budget Office, the Accountant-General of the Federation, and senior officials responsible for cash management and the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

Speaking with State House Correspondents after the meeting, NARD President, Dr. Muhammad Suleiman, expressed optimism that the association's longstanding grievances had largely been addressed, describing the discussions as productive and solution-driven.

"Today, I can tell you, our matters are solved," Suleiman declared, revealing that the Federal Government had reached concrete agreements on salary arrears, promotions, allowances, welfare packages and other issues that prompted the association's strike ultimatum.

He explained that implementation timelines had been agreed upon by relevant government agencies, with immediate attention to welfare concerns at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), including meal-related entitlements.

"We are talking about the meal issue at LUTH. We are talking about a week for implementation. We have agreed on a figure. We have agreed on numbers," he said.

Suleiman also disclosed that the Federal Government had issued a standing directive to ensure prompt payment of house officers' salaries, ending persistent delays that have affected newly employed doctors.

"Before the 10th of every month, salaries of house officers must be paid," he stated.

On the unresolved Collective Bargaining Agreement between NARD and the Federal Government, the NARD President said the Presidency had directed the Ministries of Labour and Health to accelerate negotiations to ensure outstanding commitments are incorporated into the 2027 national budget.

Beyond remuneration, the meeting also addressed the increasing incidence of violence against healthcare workers. Suleiman disclosed that 31 doctors and more than 20 other health workers had been assaulted within the past 10 months.

According to him, the Federal Ministry of Health has committed to strengthening security across public hospitals, establishing safer working environments and launching nationwide public awareness campaigns against assaults on healthcare professionals.

He further revealed that the Chief of Staff had pledged to champion legislation that would classify attacks on health workers as aggravated offences, strengthening legal protection for medical personnel.

"The Chief of Staff has taken it upon himself to introduce legislation that will make assault on health workers an aggravated offence. We believe this will send a strong message that health workers deserve protection," Suleiman said.

The meeting also revisited the long-standing dispute over hazard and specialist allowance arrears. Suleiman explained that although the Tinubu administration corrected a previous 40 per cent payment shortfall in February 2026, outstanding arrears covering 19 months from July 2024 remain unpaid.

While declining to disclose the exact financial implication, he noted that reconciliation of records had significantly reduced the outstanding liability, making payment more feasible for government. He added that the Budget Office would soon communicate a definitive payment schedule.

Despite expressing satisfaction with the outcomes, Suleiman stopped short of officially suspending the planned nationwide strike, stressing that such a decision rests with NARD's National Executive Council (NEC).

"I cannot stand here and say the strike has been called off. I must first brief the National Executive Council. However, I have every confidence that today's intervention has moved the process significantly towards resolving our issues," he stated.

He also commended Gbajabiamila for his consistent interventions in disputes involving resident doctors, recalling similar efforts during his tenure as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

"This is not the first time the Chief of Staff has intervened in our matters. Whenever he comes into our issues, our matters are resolved," Suleiman remarked.

The intervention comes less than two weeks after NARD announced plans to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike from August 10 over unpaid salary arrears, welfare concerns and other unresolved issues affecting doctors in teaching hospitals and specialist health institutions across Nigeria.

The strike notice followed the association's National Executive Council meeting in Gombe State, where members resolved to commence a total and comprehensive industrial action should the Federal Government fail to address their demands before the deadline.

With fresh commitments secured and implementation timelines agreed, attention now shifts to the NARD National Executive Council, whose decision will determine whether the planned industrial action proceeds or is officially suspended.

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