Court Stops Resident Doctors From Proceeding With Planned Strike

Court Stops Resident Doctors From Proceeding With Planned Strike
Federal Government obtained the order pending determination of the main suit.
Medical community mourns doctor who died after abduction and multiple gunshot injuries.

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Abuja has restrained the National Association of Resident Doctors and its members from embarking on the strike scheduled to commence on January 12.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the order was issued on Friday by Justice Emmanuel Subilim following an emergency application filed by the Federal Government through the Attorney General of the Federation. The suit is marked NICN ABJ 06 2026.

Justice Subilim granted the order after listening to submissions from the Director of Civil Litigation at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs Maimuna Lami Shiru, who appeared with a team of government lawyers. The Federal Government urged the court to stop the proposed strike pending the determination of the substantive matter before it.

Those joined in the suit include the National Association of Resident Doctors, its National President, Dr Mohammad Usman Suleman, and the association’s Secretary General, Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim.

The court ruled that resident doctors must maintain the status quo and refrain from commencing the planned industrial action until the case is fully heard and decided.

The development comes amid growing tension in the health sector over welfare concerns and ongoing negotiations between the Federal Government and medical unions.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian medical community has been thrown into mourning following the death of a consultant neuro psychiatrist at the Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital in Enugu, Dr Andrew Orovwigho.

Dr Orovwigho reportedly died from injuries sustained after being kidnapped, shot, and later abandoned by his abductors in an incident that has heightened concerns over the safety of medical professionals.

The consultant was abducted by unknown gunmen on December 30 2025 in front of his residence. Reports indicated that he was shot during the abduction and later released on January 1 2026.

In a tragic twist, sources disclosed that he was allegedly attacked again shortly after his release, shot a second time, and left by the roadside, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

The incident has sparked renewed calls for improved security for health workers across the country.