By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has called off its indefinite nationwide strike, following fresh assurances from the federal government.
In a statement to TheCable on Tuesday, NARD President Dr. Mohammad Usman Suleiman said the decision came after a meeting of the association’s National Executive Council (NEC). Doctors have been directed to resume work by 8 a.m. on Wednesday.
Suleiman explained that the government had given assurances to reverse its earlier plan to discontinue the implementation of the revised Professional Allowance Table (PAT), a move initially scheduled to take effect in April 2026.
However, the association has given the federal government until April 21 to fully address all outstanding demands, warning that a return to strike action will be unavoidable if the ultimatum is not met.
The resident doctors had declared an indefinite strike over the government’s intention to halt the implementation of the revised PAT—an agreement reached after a prolonged strike in 2025. The revised allowance table had provided for improved remuneration, including call duty allowances, shift allowances, rural posting incentives, and non-clinical duty payments.
While implementation was initially set for January 2026, and later shifted to February, NARD alleged that the government was now planning to scrap the process entirely by April. The association described the move as a breach of trust and a violation of prior agreements, demanding an immediate reversal and payment of all outstanding entitlements.
In addition, the doctors are demanding:
– Immediate payment of promotion arrears and salary arrears for specific medical centres,
– Speedy conclusion of the process to disburse the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund.
