The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has today announced its determination to embark on a fresh nationwide strike as Federal Government refused to implement agreement previously signed with them.
The warning comes two days after the deadline for government action expired, prompting NARD’s National Executive Council (NEC) to meet and determine the next steps under its ‘TICS 2.0-no implementation, no going back’ initiative.
In a statement issued on Friday, the association noted that it had suspended a previous strike in good faith after commitments were made by the government, but said implementation of the agreements remained incomplete.
“Commitments were made, timelines were agreed, implementation remains outstanding.
“These are signed commitments not negotiations,” the statement read.
NARD stressed that preventing another strike rests entirely on government action, not on the patience of healthcare workers, accusing the government of neglecting, altering, or only partially implementing agreements reached with resident doctors.
“The responsibility to avert another nationwide doctors’ strike lies with government action, not doctors’ patience,” the statement read.
“Agreements have been either totally neglected, altered, or half-implemented.
“Gains made have been allowed to be overtaken by events totally of the making of government,” the statement read.
The association rejected depictions of resident doctors as troublemakers, insisting its members are central to Nigeria’s healthcare delivery system.
NARD acknowledged that industrial action remains a last resort but stated that continued delays by the government could force difficult decisions.
The association called on the federal government, ministry of health, and ministry of social welfare to act urgently, stating that immediate implementation of agreements could restore trust and prevent disruption of healthcare services nationwide.
