The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced an indefinite nationwide strike set to begin at 12:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
The decision follows what the association described as the Federal Government’s plan to halt the implementation of the revised Professional Allowance Table (PAT).
Speaking after an emergency meeting, NARD President, Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim, described the situation as “unfortunate.”
According to him:
The government plans to stop implementing the allowance structure
This contradicts agreements reached after the 2025 strike
It undermines trust between doctors and authorities
The resident doctors strike Nigeria action is backed by several demands, including:
Immediate reversal of the PAT suspension, payment of outstanding salary and promotion arrears, settlement of 19 months’ unpaid allowance arrears and release of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund.
NARD insists that failure to meet these demands leaves them with no option but to proceed with the strike.
The strike is expected to significantly disrupt healthcare delivery across public hospitals.
Possible effects include:
Closure of outpatient services, delays in surgeries and emergency care, and increased pressure on private hospitals.
Resident doctors are considered the backbone of Nigeria’s healthcare system, handling a large share of patient care.
Nigeria already faces a critical shortage of medical personnel.
WHO recommends 1 doctor per 600 patients
Nigeria’s ratio is estimated at 1 doctor per 5,000 patients
Frequent strikes and poor working conditions have also contributed to the migration of doctors abroad.
Health experts and stakeholders are urging the Federal Government of Nigeria to intervene quickly to prevent another major disruption in the sector.
Failure to resolve the dispute could:
Worsen healthcare access, Increase mortality risks and deepen the ongoing brain drain in the medical field.
With the strike deadline approaching, attention is now on negotiations between NARD and the government.
Millions of Nigerians who depend on public healthcare services could be affected if no agreement is reached.
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