The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced an indefinite nationwide strike set to begin at 12:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in what experts warn could further destabilise Nigeria’s already overstretched health sector.
The decision followed an extraordinary virtual meeting of the association’s National Executive Council (NEC) held on Saturday, where members resolved to embark on a “total and comprehensive” industrial action over disputes with the Federal Government.
At the heart of the crisis is the Federal Government’s reported decision to halt the implementation of the revised Professional Allowance Table (PAT) – a key component of agreements reached after the doctors’ 2025 strike.
The PAT included improved remuneration such as enhanced call duty allowances, shift bonuses, rural posting incentives, and payments for non-clinical duties. Although implementation was initially scheduled for January 2026 and later delayed to February, NARD alleges that the government now plans to discontinue the scheme entirely by April.
NARD President, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim, described the move as “unfortunate,” warning that it undermines trust and violates earlier agreements between both parties.
The association is demanding the immediate reversal of the policy and settlement of outstanding financial obligations owed to resident doctors nationwide.
Key demands include:
• Reinstatement of the Professional Allowance Table
• Payment of promotion and salary arrears across affected centres
• Immediate disbursement of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund
• Clearance of 19 months’ outstanding professional allowance arrears
NARD leadership has also urged its members to remain united and comply fully with the strike directive.
The looming strike has raised fresh concerns about access to healthcare services across Nigeria, particularly in public and tertiary hospitals where resident doctors form the backbone of service delivery.
Healthcare experts warn that repeated industrial actions have become a defining feature of Nigeria’s health sector, driven by chronic underfunding, poor welfare conditions, and policy inconsistencies. Previous strikes in 2025 and earlier years disrupted services nationwide, often leaving hospitals understaffed or completely shut.
With resident doctors playing a critical role in emergency care and specialist training, their withdrawal from services is expected to significantly impact patient care, especially in rural and underserved areas.
The strike is likely to:
• Disrupt emergency and routine medical services
• Increase patient load on private hospitals and remaining healthcare workers
• Delay surgeries, consultations, and specialist treatments
• Worsen health outcomes for vulnerable populations
Observers say the recurring cycle of strikes reflects deeper structural issues within Nigeria’s healthcare system – where many hospitals already struggle with inadequate staffing, brain drain, and limited resources.
As the strike deadline approaches, stakeholders are calling for urgent negotiations to avert another prolonged shutdown of medical services.
Without swift intervention, the latest dispute risks deepening a long-standing crisis in Nigeria’s health sector – one where, increasingly, hospitals operate without sufficient personnel, and patients bear the ultimate cost.
