The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has agreed to suspend its planned nationwide strike scheduled to begin on August 10 after a late-night meeting with Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The meeting, which lasted for nearly three hours, ended with both sides reaching an agreement on a roadmap to address the doctors’ outstanding demands, including the payment of a 19-month salary backlog and other welfare issues.
According to officials familiar with the discussions, the Federal Government committed to a clear implementation timeline for settling the outstanding arrears, a key demand that had prompted NARD to issue its strike notice.
In a major concession, President Bola Tinubu also approved a waiver of the government’s “No Work, No Pay” policy for resident doctors affected by previous industrial actions. The decision clears the way for doctors to receive salaries that had previously been withheld under the policy.
Gbajabiamila described the outcome of the meeting as a demonstration of the administration’s commitment to dialogue and maintaining stability in Nigeria’s healthcare system. He said the government remains committed to improving the welfare of healthcare workers while ensuring uninterrupted medical services across the country.
NARD leaders welcomed the progress made during the negotiations, saying the agreed timelines and presidential assurances provided sufficient grounds to suspend the planned industrial action. They, however, stressed that the association would continue to monitor the implementation of the agreements and reserve the right to take further action if commitments are not fulfilled.
The planned strike had threatened to disrupt healthcare services in federal teaching hospitals and tertiary medical institutions nationwide, where resident doctors play a central role in patient care, emergency services and specialist training.
The resolution comes after weeks of negotiations over unpaid salaries, allowances and other employment concerns that resident doctors argued had remained unresolved despite repeated engagements with the government.
Health sector stakeholders have welcomed the breakthrough, noting that the suspension of the strike will spare patients from disruptions and provide an opportunity for both parties to rebuild confidence through the timely implementation of the agreed commitments.
Attention will now turn to the government’s ability to meet the agreed payment schedule, with NARD expected to closely monitor compliance before determining its next course of action.
