The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has launched an indefinite nationwide strike, halting services in public hospitals. The decision followed an extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting where members expressed "grave concern and total disappointment" over the federal government's reversal of the revised Professional Allowance Table (PAT), set to take effect in April 2026. NARD termed the reversal a breach of prior agreements and warned it would worsen the welfare conditions of health workers.
The association cited unresolved financial issues, including delays in payment of promotion and salary arrears across several institutions. It also highlighted the slow disbursement of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) and the non-payment of 19 months' arrears of the revised Professional Allowance, previously promised by the government. NARD described these developments as reflecting "a pattern of neglect, insensitivity, and lack of commitment" toward resident doctors.
NARD demanded the immediate reinstatement of the revised PAT, full payment of all outstanding arrears, and prompt release of the 2026 MRTF. The strike is expected to disrupt healthcare delivery, with public hospitals scaling down operations, postponing elective surgeries, and limiting access to emergency and specialist care.
NARD's strike underscores the cost of broken promises to frontline health workers who have waited 19 months for overdue allowances. When resident doctors are forced to withdraw services due to unpaid remuneration, it is not just a protest—it is a signal that the public health system is operating on borrowed time. For Nigerians reliant on public hospitals, each strike deepens the gap between policy commitments and medical reality.
