The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) will begin a nationwide strike at 12:00 a.m. on Tuesday, 7 April 2026, after the federal government suspended the Professional Allowance Table (PAT). The decision follows a virtual National Executive Council meeting held on Saturday, 4 April, where the association condemned the government's move as "unfortunate." In a statement signed by Secretary-General Shuaibu Ibrahim, NARD declared a "total and comprehensive industrial action" until its demands are met.
Key demands include the immediate reversal of the PAT suspension, payment of 19 months of accumulated professional allowance arrears, and settlement of promotion and salary arrears. NARD also wants the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) disbursed without further delay. The association urged members to remain united in pressing for resolution.
This marks another chapter in the recurring standoff between resident doctors and the federal government over remuneration. A 29-day strike was suspended last year after negotiations, while another industrial action occurred earlier in 2026 over delayed salaries. Public hospitals are expected to scale down services, with surgeries and critical care likely affected.
Shuaibu Ibrahim and NARD are again leveraging strike action because past agreements have not been fully honoured. The federal government's repeated suspension of allowances suggests a pattern of fiscal indecision, not bad faith. For Nigerians, this means more disruptions in a public health system already stretched thin. Another strike won't fix the root issue—consistent funding and implementation of agreed welfare packages.
