The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its planned indefinite nationwide strike following new commitments from the federal government on the payment of allowances, arrears, and medical training funding. The decision was announced in a communiqué issued after an emergency virtual meeting of NARD's National Executive Council (NEC) on Saturday. The document was signed by NARD president Mohammad Suleiman, secretary-general Shuaibu Ibrahim, and publicity and social secretary Abdulmajid Ibrahim. The suspension comes after high-level talks involving the vice president, the ministers of health, labour, and finance, as well as the Budget Office, the Office of the Accountant General, and IPPIS. The Nigerian Medical Association and the State Security Service also participated in the discussions.
NARD had previously announced the strike due to the federal government's reversal of the revised Professional Allowance Table (PAT) and other welfare issues. However, the government has now reversed that decision, with the revised PAT expected to reflect in April salaries and beyond. The federal government also reaffirmed its commitment to pay all outstanding promotion and salary arrears owed to resident doctors. Initial approval has been granted for the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), with a pledge to finalise disbursement. The Budget Office confirmed readiness to begin processing 19 months of unpaid professional allowances. NARD expressed concern over ongoing delays in house officers' salary payments, calling for an urgent stakeholders' meeting. The NEC will review progress at its May Ordinary General Meeting in Kano.
NARD is calling off a strike based on promises already broken once, with the same reversal now reversed again. Resident doctors are trusting the government to pay April salaries as pledged, but the 19 months of unpaid allowances show how fragile that trust is. The same officials who delayed payments for nearly two years are now expected to act promptly. If the April salaries don't reflect the revised PAT, the strike could return before the Kano meeting.
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