As detailed in reports by Daily Post, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has resolved to halt its proposed nationwide industrial action after a lengthy consultative meeting with senior government officials at the Presidential Villa. Convened by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, the dialogue included cabinet ministers from Labour, Health, and Finance, as well as top budget officers.
The agreement addresses core grievances surrounding overdue salary arrears, pending promotion allowances, and payroll integration issues affecting medical practitioners across federal tertiary institutions. Specific operational timelines were established for the immediate disbursement of outstanding entitlements.
Validating the resolution, The Punch reported that NARD President Dr. Muhammad Suleiman expressed optimism following negotiations, stating, “Today, I can tell you, our matters are solved.” Concurrently, Channels TV quoted government representatives who stated that “the administration remains fully committed to maintaining industrial peace and improving healthcare infrastructure for all citizens.”
Echotitbits take:
Preventing a strike by resident doctors protects public hospitals from catastrophic service disruptions during a period of heightened seasonal health risks. While reaching consensus prevents immediate paralysis across federal medical centres, past agreements have suffered from delayed administrative implementation. The primary focus moving forward will be whether the budget office releases the agreed funds within the stipulated timelines.
Source: The Guardian – https://guardian.ng/news/resident-doctors-suspend-strike-plans-after-fg-reaches-deal-on-key-demands/, August 5, 2026
Photo credit: The Guardian
