The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has extended its strike ultimatum to the Federal Government by 24 hours, as negotiations over long-standing welfare concerns remain inconclusive.
The doctors, who had earlier threatened to down tools this week, said the extension was a mark of goodwill to allow government one final opportunity to address their demands.
In a communiqué issued after an emergency meeting, NARD said the decision followed appeals from critical stakeholders, including the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
“Our members have been patient long enough. The issues of salary arrears, inadequate hazard allowance, and the failure to implement the 2022 agreement remain unresolved. We are giving the government an extra 24 hours, after which we will have no choice but to commence a nationwide strike,” the statement read.
The association lamented that doctors across several teaching hospitals and federal medical centres were overstretched due to manpower shortages worsened by mass migration of health professionals.
Reacting, officials from the Ministry of Health assured that discussions were ongoing to avert the strike. A senior official, who preferred not to be named, said: “Government is not ignoring the doctors. Dialogue is on course, and we are optimistic of a resolution within the extended period.”
Patients in major hospitals across Abuja, Lagos, and other cities expressed concern that another strike would further cripple healthcare delivery, especially in emergency wards already battling with shortages of staff and equipment.
Observers say the next 24 hours will be crucial, as both sides weigh the cost of another nationwide doctors’ strike at a time Nigeria’s health sector is under severe pressure.
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