Medical doctors begin nationwide indefinite strike

Medical services across Nigeria have been severely disrupted following the commencement of an indefinite strike by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).

The association’s president, Dr. Mohammad Suleiman, confirmed the start of the strike in a statement issued on Saturday, citing the government’s failure to implement previously agreed terms despite several meetings, warnings, and appeals.

According to Suleiman, the 30-day ultimatum earlier given to the Federal Government expired without any meaningful progress, forcing the doctors to take decisive action.

“We embark on this total, comprehensive, and indefinite strike not out of desire but out of necessity,” he said.“Our decision follows the Federal Government’s continued neglect of our legitimate demands and the worsening state of Nigeria’s health system.”

Suleiman explained that the doctors had exhausted all peaceful avenues, stressing that their demands were not for personal gain but aimed at safeguarding the country’s collapsing healthcare system.

“Our demands are not selfish nor politically motivated. They are centred on ensuring that doctors can provide safe, effective, and compassionate care in an environment that safeguards their physical and mental well-being,” he stated.

Among the concerns raised by NARD are unpaid salary arrears, inadequate staffing, poor working conditions, excessive workload, and a lack of essential medical infrastructure — all of which have hindered effective healthcare delivery across the country.

He also cautioned that the ongoing migration of medical professionals abroad would persist unless urgent interventions were made.

“A nation’s health system is only as strong as the doctors who sustain it. If those doctors are broken, demotivated, or forced to seek survival elsewhere, the patients suffer most,” Suleiman warned.

Calling for public solidarity, he urged Nigerians, including civil society groups, labour unions, and traditional and religious leaders, to rally behind the doctors’ cause.

“This is not a fight against the government but a struggle for a functional and humane healthcare system. We appeal to Nigerians to stand with us so hospitals can reopen and patients can once again access the care they deserve,” he added.

The strike, which took effect on Saturday, November 1, 2025, followed the expiration of the association’s ultimatum. Hospitals across the nation are expected to experience major service disruptions as the industrial action takes hold.