The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its planned nationwide strike after recording what it described as significant progress on its demands following sustained engagements with the Federal Government and other key stakeholders.
The decision was reached during a virtual Emergency National Executive Council (E-NEC) meeting held on January 11, 2026, where the association reviewed recent developments and assessed the status of its demands.
NARD said the suspension followed direct presidential intervention led by Vice President Kashim Shettima on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to the Secretary-General of the association, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim, the suspension is strategic and conditional, allowing the NEC to review tangible progress at its next meeting scheduled to commence on January 25, 2026.
“The NEC unanimously resolved to suspend the resumption of TICS 2.0 based on firm commitments from critical stakeholders and the direct presidential intervention led by the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, acting on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the statement read in part.
The association expressed appreciation to its members and stakeholders for their support, adding that it remains confident that the Vice President’s intervention would lead to a lasting resolution of long-standing challenges in Nigeria’s health sector.
On the lingering crisis at the Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH), Lokoja, NARD disclosed that an earlier committee report had been implemented, while a new reconciliation committee has been constituted to ensure peace and harmony among medical professionals at the facility.
NARD also reported progress on the payment of outstanding Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) arrears, accoutrement allowances, promotion and salary arrears, as well as steps toward resolving issues relating to entry-level placement, locum practice, specialist allowances and the welfare of house officers.
The association had earlier stated that more than 2,000 of its members were yet to be paid arrears of the 25–35 per cent CONMESS adjustment, despite claims by the Federal Government that the outstanding payments had been settled.
Responding to the government’s assertion that seven out of its 19 demands had been statutorily addressed, including the full payment of seven months’ CONMESS arrears, NARD insisted that many doctors were still unpaid.
“On the seven months’ arrears of 25–35 per cent, we still have over 2,000, almost 3,000 of our members who are yet to be paid those arrears,” a representative of the association said.
Meanwhile, to avert a shutdown of the health sector, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria last Friday issued an interim order restraining resident doctors from commencing the planned “TICS 2.0” strike scheduled for January 12, 2026.
Justice Emmanuel Subilim made the order while ruling on a motion ex parte filed by the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Attorney General of the Federation, following rising tensions over unresolved welfare and professional concerns.
Discover more from LN247
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
