Key Points
- NARD says government did not meet key welfare and equipment demands. The union insists the action will run.
- The association notes earlier warning actions did not change the situation. Members now want firm timelines.
- Patients are urged to seek alternatives during the stoppage. Civil groups are asked to support doctors.
Resident doctors across Nigeria have begun an indefinite strike after talks with the government collapsed. The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) said the action will run until core demands are met.
NARD said the strike starts today, Saturday, 1 November 2025. It follows September’s five-day warning action that slowed many public hospitals. Read our earlier Nigerian doctors declare warning strike for background.
The doctors said government ignored pay arrears, hazard duty and promotion issues. They also want better tools and more staff in federal centres. NARD president Dr Mohammad Suleiman said the move became “a painful last step”.
Why the doctors are striking
NARD explained that unpaid allowances have piled up in several teaching hospitals. Many centres still run with thin staff, so shifts last too long. The group said this has hurt patient safety for months.
Dr Suleiman said members are leaving the country in large numbers. He warned that the exodus will get worse without quick action. “This action is not for comfort; it is for survival,” he said.
The union also linked the strike to poor infrastructure. Many public hospitals work with old equipment or none at all. NARD said doctors should not keep taking risks in such spaces.
Impact on patients
The association asked Nigerians to support the action, not attack it. It said doctors want a system that truly serves patients. Civil society and labour groups were urged to press government to act fast.
NARD noted it had earlier moved to protect staff by capping long calls. That step is captured in our recent resident doctors enforce 24-hour shift limit report.
Hospitals are already reporting service disruptions in emergency and clinic units. Some state facilities may run skeletal services with consultants. NARD said such cover does not replace full teams.
The union restated that talks can restart at once if government shows good faith. It said clear timelines and written commitments will help members return to work. Until then, the strike stays
