The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has declared a total and indefinite nationwide strike to commence on **January 12, 2026, citing the Federal Government’s failure to implement critical welfare agreements reached last year.
The decision, announced on Friday after an Extraordinary National Executive Council meeting, follows a four-week ultimatum that expired without action from the government. The strike action, officially tagged “TICS 2.0 No Implementation, No Going Back,” is set to begin at 12:00 a.m. and will only be suspended upon the “full implementation” of the doctors’ demands.
NARD President, Dr. Mohammed Suleiman, outlined an aggressive public engagement strategy to accompany the industrial action. NERD plan Nationwide Media Saturation to all 91 NARD chapter, presidents have been directed to hold local congress meetings and conduct press conferences within the next seven days to “saturate the spaces” with the association’s grievances.
This development follows a 29-day strike suspended by NARD on November 29, 2025, after the government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) pledging to address the demands within four weeks. NARD asserts that the deadline passed without visible progress, prompting the current action.
Dr. Suleiman explained that the one-week window before the strike is “strategic” to allow for statutory notifications to security agencies and hospital management, as well as comprehensive member mobilization.
As of press time, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has not issued an official response. The impending strike threatens to shut down a significant portion of medical services across public hospitals in Nigeria, echoing the disruptions caused by previous industrial actions by the crucial cadre of doctors.
