Unmet demands: Resident doctors to commence indefinite strike Nov 1
Isolation ward at LUTH
Accuses some govt, non-govt actors of “evil and exploitative plans” against resident doctors
Emeka Agu Jnr
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) says it will begin an indefinite nationwide strike starting November 1, 2025.
NARD President, Mohammad Suleiman, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
According to him, the strike directive was issued after the expiration of a 30-day ultimatum earlier given to the federal government over unresolved demands.
The decision, he added, was taken after a five-hour meeting of the association’s National Executive Council, NEC, on Saturday.
“The NEC has marshalled out minimum demands, strike monitoring directives, and ‘no work, no pay/no pay, no work’ resolutions needed for a successful execution of this action.
“Today, after a 5-hour Extra-Ordinary National Executive Council Meeting, the members of NEC have issued out new marching orders to us once again.
“The NEC has unanimously directed us to declare a total, comprehensive and indefinite strike action to commence on Friday 31st October 2025 at 11:59 pm,” the statement said.
Suleiman said the national officers committee (NOC) has been mandated to ensure full compliance with the directive and to implement strike monitoring and enforcement measures across all centres.
He added that the association’s centre presidents and general secretaries have been directed to convene emergency congress meetings to brief members on the resolutions.
The NARD president accused some government and non-government actors of “evil and exploitative plans” against resident doctors, adding that the union will “collectively resist” such moves.
He urged members of NARD to use the next few days to hand over patients, engage community and religious leaders, and sensitise the public ahead of the strike.
The association is demanding a 200 percent increase in the consolidated medical salary structure (CONMESS) and full implementation of new allowances proposed in July 2022, an immediate recruitment of clinical staff, and removal of bottlenecks hindering the replacement of exiting doctors.
