The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its nationwide strike hours before it was set to begin on January 12, citing new government commitments. The suspension comes days after a court order explicitly barred the union from industrial action.
NARD announced the decision following a Sunday emergency meeting, calling the pause “strategic and conditional.” The union stated it received “firm commitments” from several government bodies, including the ministries of Health, Labour, and Finance, as well as direct intervention from Vice President Kashim Shettima. The suspension will last until January 25 to assess progress on the doctors’ demands.
This development follows a January 9 ruling by Justice Emmanuel Subilim of the National Industrial Court. The court granted the federal government’s request for an interim injunction, prohibiting NARD from “embarking upon any form of industrial action” until a substantive hearing on January 21.
Notably, NARD’s official communique did not acknowledge the court injunction, attributing the suspension solely to government negotiations.
