‎Resident doctors to begin indefinite strike Tuesday over allowance dispute

ABUJA — The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced that its members will embark on a nationwide indefinite strike beginning at midnight on Tuesday,April 7, 2026, following a dispute with the Federal Government over allowances.
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‎The decision was reached after an emergency meeting of the association’s National Executive Council, where members expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s alleged move to discontinue the revised Professional Allowance Table (PAT), a key component of previous agreements.
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‎According to the association, the planned withdrawal of services became necessary after what it described as the government’s failure to honour commitments reached after the 2025 industrial action.
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‎NARD said the strike would be “total and comprehensive,” affecting public hospitals across the country, as doctors insist that the allowance structure must be maintained.
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‎The doctors noted that the Professional Allowance Table was part of concessions made by the government to address longstanding welfare concerns, including remuneration and working conditions.
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‎The association warned that any attempt to scrap or alter the agreement without consultation undermines trust and could further destabilise the already strained health sector.
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‎The development is expected to significantly disrupt healthcare services nationwide, as resident doctors constitute a large percentage of the workforce in public hospitals.
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‎This latest action adds to a series of industrial disputes between the government and medical professionals, often centred on unpaid salaries, poor welfare, and unmet agreements.
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‎As of press time, the Federal Government had yet to issue an official response to the planned strike.
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‎Meanwhile, stakeholders have called for urgent dialogue to avert a prolonged shutdown of medical services and prevent further hardship for patients across the country.