- NARD reached agreements with the Federal Government
- Doctors will consult before suspending the planned strike
- Government promised to address salaries, allowances and security
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) is expected to suspend its planned nationwide strike after reaching key agreements with the Federal Government during a high-level meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The meeting, which lasted about three hours on Tuesday evening, was convened by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and attended by representatives of the Ministries of Labour, Health and Finance, alongside officials from the Budget Office, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), and other government agencies, Eko Hot Blog gathered.
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Speaking after the meeting, NARD President, Dr. Muhammad Suleiman, said discussions with government officials had produced concrete commitments on several issues that had prompted the association to threaten industrial action.
According to him, timelines have now been agreed for resolving outstanding matters relating to salary arrears, promotions, allowances and other welfare concerns affecting resident doctors.
Suleiman commended Gbajabiamila for intervening in the dispute, noting that the Chief of Staff had previously played a similar role in resolving issues involving resident doctors.
He expressed confidence that the latest intervention would also lead to a lasting resolution.
Among the agreements reached was the implementation of outstanding meal allowances for doctors at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), with government agencies expected to begin implementation within a week.
The NARD president also disclosed that the Federal Government had issued a standing directive to ensure that house officers receive their salaries before the 10th day of every month to prevent recurring payment delays.
On the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the association and the Federal Government, Suleiman said the Ministries of Labour and Health had been directed to conclude negotiations quickly so that the agreed provisions could be included in the 2027 national budget.
The association also raised concerns over the growing number of attacks on health workers across the country, revealing that 31 doctors and more than 20 other medical personnel had been assaulted within the last 10 months.
In response, the Federal Ministry of Health pledged to strengthen security in public hospitals and launch public awareness campaigns aimed at discouraging violence against healthcare workers.
Suleiman further disclosed that the Chief of Staff had pledged to support legislation that would classify assaults on health workers as aggravated offences, providing stronger legal protection for medical professionals.
On the issue of unpaid hazard and specialist allowances, he explained that the dispute dates back several years after resident doctors were paid only a fraction of their entitlements.
Although the Federal Government corrected part of the payment structure earlier this year, Suleiman said some arrears remain outstanding and discussions are ongoing to determine a payment schedule.
Despite the progress made, the NARD president said he could not officially announce the suspension of the planned strike without first consulting the association’s National Executive Council.
He explained that the outcome of the meeting would be presented to the council, which would make the final decision on whether to call off the industrial action.
A source familiar with the discussions, however, disclosed that the association had privately assured the Chief of Staff that the planned strike would be suspended following the agreements reached.
NARD had earlier threatened to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike from August 10 over unresolved issues, including unpaid salaries, allowances, welfare concerns and the implementation of previous agreements with the Federal Government.
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