The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) said it has commenced an indefinite nationwide strike effective 12:00 a.m. on Saturday.
NARD President, Dr. Muhammad Suleiman, who stated this during a press briefing in Abuja, said the decision was reached after a five-hour emergency meeting of the association’s National Executive Council (NEC) last week.
He said the strike, which is expected to paralyze activities in government-owned hospitals across the country, followed the federal government’s alleged failure to meet a 19-point list of demands described by the association as its minimum expectations.
While appealing to President Bola Tinubu to personally intervene in the matter, Dr. Suleiman explained that the association had exercised restraint and patience despite repeated government’s inaction on critical welfare and payment issues affecting doctors and other healthcare workers.
He added that the federal government owes medical personnel an estimated ₦38 billion in accumulated allowances and arrears, while several hospitals continued to operate under poor conditions due to lack of funding and inadequate staffing.