The Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors has insisted that its planned nationwide strike scheduled for January 12, 2026, will go on despite an interim court order restraining the action.
The President of NARD, Dr Mohammad Suleiman, stated this during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, where he said the association was not shaken by the ruling of the National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja.
The court, presided over by Justice E. D. Subilim, had granted an interim injunction restraining NARD and two of its officials from embarking on any form of industrial action.
The suit, marked NICN/ABJ/06/2026, was filed by the Federal Government and the Attorney General of the Federation against the association, Dr Suleiman and Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim.
Speaking on the programme, Suleiman accused the government of acting in bad faith, noting that NARD had earlier suspended a planned strike in November 2025 after signing a Memorandum of Understanding.
“We signed the MoU on November 27. The strike was initially slated for December 27 but NEC shifted it and we even gave more days at the beginning of this year,” he said.
He added, “While discussions were still ongoing, we started hearing on social media that a court injunction had been served and that ‘no work, no pay’ circulars were being issued. That does not show good faith.”
Suleiman said the strike would proceed unless the National Executive Council of the association decided otherwise, adding that discussions with the Federal Government were still ongoing and could yield results before the weekend ends.
NARD Vows to Proceed with January 12 Strike Despite Court Injunction
The Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors has vowed to proceed with its January 12, 2026 nationwide strike, notwithstanding an interim injunction issued by the National Industrial Court.
NARD President, Dr Mohammad Suleiman, disclosed this during a telephone interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday night.
The industrial court had restrained the association and two of its leaders from embarking on any industrial action following a suit instituted by the Federal Government and the Attorney General of the Federation.
Reacting to the court order, Suleiman said resident doctors were not deterred, stressing that the government failed to honour agreements reached after the suspension of an earlier strike in November 2025.
“When negotiations are ongoing, they should be done in good faith. Once you begin to introduce court orders and threats like ‘no work, no pay’, it shows a lack of sincerity,” he said.
According to him, the strike was initially postponed after NARD signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the government, adding that further extensions were granted in the interest of dialogue.
Asked directly whether the strike would still hold, Suleiman said, “We will proceed unless the National Executive Council of the Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors says otherwise.”
He, however, expressed hope that talks with the Federal Government could resolve the dispute before the strike date.
Doctors’ Strike Still On as NARD Dismisses Court Order
The Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors has declared that its planned nationwide strike remains on course despite an interim injunction issued by the National Industrial Court in Abuja.
The association’s President, Dr Mohammad Suleiman, made this known on Friday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
The court had restrained NARD from embarking on any industrial action following a suit filed by the Federal Government and the Attorney General of the Federation.
Suleiman said the association was disappointed by the development, noting that resident doctors had shown restraint by suspending an earlier strike and allowing room for negotiations.
“We suspended the strike in November after signing an MoU. The action was postponed again in December and extended further this year to allow discussions,” he said.
He added that members only learned about the court injunction through social media, alongside reports of ‘no work, no pay’ directives.
“When you approach negotiations with armouries and legal threats, it shows you are not interested in genuine dialogue,” Suleiman said.
He maintained that the strike would go ahead unless the National Executive Council of NARD decided otherwise, while expressing optimism that ongoing discussions with the Federal Government could still avert the action before January 12.
