The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors' strike, set to commence today, April 7, 2026, is already posing a threat to the nation's federal and state-owned institutions. Since the start of President Bola Tinubu's administration, resident physicians in Nigeria have gone on strike for a total of 51 days, which raises new questions about the government's capacity to uphold agreements with medical professionals.
The number, which includes two significant strikes and a warning action between 2023 and 2025, coincides with doctors' announcement that they will cease operations as of today due to policy reversals and unpaid allowances.
The Federal Government's reported decision to delay the implementation of the revised Professional Allowance Table, a crucial element of an agreement made during the 2025 strike, is said to be the direct cause of the current strike.
In its most recent statement, NARD described the action as "unfortunate" and accused the government of pressuring physicians to participate in yet another unnecessary strike.
After discussing the policy change, the group claimed that its National Executive Council decided to launch a "total and comprehensive strike."
NARD is requesting that the decision to halt the allowance table be immediately reversed, that salary and promotion arrears be paid, that 19 months' worth of unpaid allowance arrears be settled, and that the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund be released.
The Professional Allowance Table, which standardizes payments like call duty, shift allowances, and other work-related incentives, is at the heart of the controversy.
An examination of resident physician strikes since May 2023 reveals a pattern of recurrent conflicts.
The association went on a 17-day strike in August 2023.
Concerns over welfare and the deteriorating financial situation of Nigerian doctors were the main causes of the 2023 strike.
The cost of living increased dramatically nationwide after the President eliminated the fuel subsidy on May 29, 2023. However, resident physicians claimed that their pay was not adjusted to account for the new situation, which made it harder for them to satisfy their basic demands.
The doctors complained about poor welfare, including insufficient and occasionally delayed allowances, in addition to salary issues.
They also brought up concerns about inadequate financing for training and other professional requirements, which they claimed had an impact on their performance and ability to advance in their careers.
The increasing lack of medical professionals as a result of Nigerian doctors migrating in large numbers outside in pursuit of better prospects was another significant contributing factor.
The health sector experienced stress, burnout, and a decline in morale as a result of this trend, which greatly increased the workload for those who stayed in the nation.
The strike, which started on July 26, 2023, was also connected to more general worries about subpar working conditions, including as bad hospital infrastructure and the government's inability to carry out earlier agreements made with the association.
Following talks between NARD and the Federal Government, the strike was halted on August 12, 2023, after around 17 days of industrial action.
In September 2025, the doctors went on a five-day warning strike. In November 2025, a full-fledged strike ensued. For 29 days, there was a strike.
The 2025 deal between NARD and the Federal Government, which came after a protracted strike, is the source of the current issue.
In order to improve the welfare of physicians, the agreement provided a redesigned allowance structure that included higher remuneration for call duty, shifts, and remote postings.
The original January 2026 implementation date was eventually changed to February 2026. Doctors, however, said that the procedure had been inconsistent and had been stopped.
The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has not yet released an official statement regarding NARD's scheduled strike as of the time this news was filed.
In an interview with our correspondent on Monday, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim, the Secretary General of NARD, stated that in the event that the government announced a decision to change its mind, the organization would think about suspending the strike.
"When many people suggested that we begin the strike right away, we said, 'No, this is a public holiday, let's give them time to reverse the instruction. Once they give that reverse instruction, we will know whether they communicate with us or not."
As of the time this report was filed, Chinedu Moghalu, the Senior Special Advisor to the Minister of Health, had not replied to any questions.
In the meantime, the NARD chapter in Abia State has declared that it will support the national directive's decision to go on strike starting on Tuesday.
Following its congress in Umuahia on Monday, the branch declared, "We are 100% prepared to embark on the indefinite strike by midnight," according to state president Dr. Godwin Alaede.
According to Dr. Alaede, physicians will perform effectively if they receive fair compensation.
"We regret any inconveniences it (the strike) will cause to anyone who may be affected," he added, adding that the physicians were considerate of the suffering of their patients.
But he promised that the nurses and medical advisors would step in.
He mentioned that the state's NARD would convene another congress on Tuesday to discuss any potential agreements from Monday's national level meeting with the federal government.