JUST-IN: Resident Doctors Begin Nationwide Strike As Government Fails To Meet Demands

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has commenced a nationwide onslaught connected Friday pursuing the national government’s nonaccomplishment to conscionable its minimum demands wrong the 24-hour ultimatum issued by the relation connected Wednesday.

NARD President, Dr. Osundara Tope Zenith, confirmed that the concern enactment was activated aft the expiration of the deadline, which followed an Extraordinary National Executive Council (E-NEC) gathering held virtually connected Wednesday, September 10, 2025.

The E-NEC, which had successful attendance representatives from federal, state, and backstage tertiary wellness institutions crossed the country, reviewed the three-week ultimatum earlier fixed successful July and its consequent 10-day extension.

The doctors expressed disappointment that contempt repeated engagements with applicable stakeholders, captious issues affecting their payment remained unresolved.

Among the grievances listed by NARD were the non-payment of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) to respective nonmigratory doctors, the nonaccomplishment to settee five-month arrears from the 25%/35% CONMESS review, unpaid 2024 accoutrement allowance, and different outstanding wage arrears.

The doctors besides condemned the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) for downgrading the rank certificates of the West African Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons, arsenic good arsenic the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN) for its hold successful issuing certificates to qualified candidates.

In addition, the E-NEC decried the Oyo State Government’s mediocre handling of payment issues affecting doctors astatine LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomosho, who person been connected indefinite strike, and criticised authorities governments that person failed to disburse MRTF to nonmigratory doctors nether their employment.

As portion of its resolutions, NARD demanded the contiguous merchandise of the 2025 MRTF, outgo of each outstanding arrears, restoration of designation for postgraduate rank certificates, and urgent involution by authorities governments to code payment challenges.

Dr. Osundara noted that the onslaught became inevitable aft the authorities failed to show bully religion by gathering the minimum demands wrong the specified 24 hours.

Hospitals crossed the state are expected to beryllium affected by the concern action, raising caller concerns astir entree to healthcare for Nigerians who beryllium connected nationalist wellness institutions.