The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has suspended its planned indefinite nationwide strike following fresh commitments from the Federal Government to address longstanding welfare concerns affecting its members.
The decision was announced after an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held virtually on Saturday, April 25, where the association reviewed outcomes of engagements with key government officials, including the Vice President and ministers overseeing health, labour, and finance.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, NARD said the government had reversed its earlier decision to halt the implementation of the reviewed Professional Allowance Table (PAT), with payments expected to reflect in April salaries and beyond.
The association also noted renewed assurances from the government to settle outstanding promotion and salary arrears owed to resident doctors across affected institutions, as well as progress toward the disbursement of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund.
Additionally, the Budget Office has indicated readiness to begin the process of clearing 19 months of unpaid professional allowance arrears, a key demand that had fueled tensions between doctors and the government.
Despite these developments, the association expressed concern over the continued delay in the payment of house officers’ salaries, calling for urgent action to resolve the issue.
“In light of the above developments, the NEC resolves to suspend the proposed total, indefinite, and comprehensive strike action,” the communiqué stated, adding that progress on the government’s commitments would be reviewed at its next Ordinary General Meeting scheduled for May in Kano.
The association acknowledged the interventions of President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and Muhammed Ali Pate, and other senior government officials who played roles in facilitating the resolution.