Resident doctors under the umbrella of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors have warned that medical services across the country may soon be shut down again following the Federal Government’s failure to implement agreements contained in a Memorandum of Understanding signed with the association.
The warning was contained in an urgent appeal addressed to senior medical professionals and respected elders in the health sector, issued by the NARD Secretary General, Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim.
The appeal, titled Urgent Appeal to Avert a Looming Nationwide NARD Strike, cautioned that Nigeria was edging towards a total and indefinite strike if the government continued to ignore the agreement reached with resident doctors.
According to the association, the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Government failed to meet several deadlines agreed upon after resident doctors suspended their last industrial action.
NARD recalled that it suspended its indefinite strike on November 29 after 29 days of nationwide action, following the signing of an MoU in which the government committed to meeting the doctors’ demands within four weeks.
The association warned that the failure to act within the agreed timeline leaves resident doctors with no option than to resume a comprehensive strike.
In the statement, Dr Ibrahim said, “I write to you at a critical moment for Nigeria’s health sector and the medical profession. As revered elders, past and present leaders and custodians of the values that have sustained our noble calling, your voices carry unmatched moral authority and national weight.”
He added that the association was “on the brink of another nationwide industrial action, triggered by the failure of the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Government to honour the Memorandum of Understanding freely entered into with NARD.”
Describing the situation as deeply troubling, the association said the development represents a breakdown of trust and good faith in government and professional relations, with grave implications for healthcare delivery.
NARD explained that resident doctors form the backbone of service delivery in tertiary hospitals across the country and are already overworked and demoralised.
“For clarity, the sequence of events over the past few months underscores NARD’s patience and restraint,” the association stated. “After suspending our warning strike, we issued a two week ultimatum which elapsed without any meaningful response. This was extended by 30 days as an act of goodwill, again without response. A further seven day extension was granted, still without response.”
It added that the eventual commencement of the first comprehensive strike led to limited engagement and the signing of an MoU with clear timelines, which have now been ignored.
“Today marks the 31st day after the signing of the MoU, yet there has been no visible or substantive progress on its implementation. In this context, resident doctors should not be blamed if industrial action resumes, having repeatedly demonstrated patience while government obligations remain unmet,” the association said.
NARD appealed to senior medical elders to intervene, noting that their influence could compel the government to act and prevent another nationwide disruption of healthcare services.
“When agreements addressing our welfare are treated with levity, it sends a dangerous signal that sacrifice, dialogue and professionalism no longer count.”
“Your timely intervention can still avert this looming crisis, restore confidence and safeguard patients’ lives,” the statement said.
As of the time of filing this report, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare had yet to issue an official response to the warning.
