By Onilede Titi Faith
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), on Friday embarked on a five-day warning strike over unpaid allowances, salary arrears, and other unresolved welfare issues.
The strike, which began at 8:00 am on September 12, followed the expiration of a final ultimatum to the Federal Government.
NARD said government inaction on its long-standing demands left it with no option but to proceed with industrial action.
Resident doctors, who deliver a significant share of clinical services in Nigeria’s public hospitals, warned that the strike would paralyse healthcare delivery nationwide, leaving patients stranded.
In a notice titled Declaration of Strike Action and signed by NARD Secretary-General, Dr. Oluwasola Odunbaku, the association directed all members across federal and state hospitals to fully comply.
“All centre leadership is expected to guide their members accordingly. Further updates will be communicated,” the statement read.
The decision followed a six-hour Extraordinary National Executive Council (E-NEC), meeting held virtually after the government failed to act on multiple ultimatums.
NARD had issued a 21-day deadline in July, later extended by 10 days, which lapsed on September 10. A final 24-hour notice expired on September 11.
The association said it was disappointed that, despite repeated extensions, the government failed to address critical welfare concerns.
