The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has warned that Nigeria may soon witness another nationwide shutdown of hospital services over the Federal Governmentโs failure to honour an agreement reached with the association.
The warning was contained in an urgent appeal posted on X on Sunday by the Secretary-General of NARD, Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim. The appeal was titled โUrgent Appeal to Avert a Looming Nationwide NARD Strike (TICS 2.0).โ
According to the association, the failure of the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Government to implement the Memorandum of Understanding signed with resident doctors has pushed the union to the brink of another total and indefinite strike.
NARD recalled that it suspended its last indefinite strike on November 29, after 29 days of industrial action, following the signing of the MoU with the government. Under the agreement, the government promised to meet the associationโs demands within four weeks.
However, the association said the deadline had passed without any meaningful action.
โI write to you at a critical moment for Nigeriaโs health sector and the medical profession,โ Ibrahim said.
โAs revered elders, past and present leaders, and custodians of the values that have long sustained our noble calling, your voices carry unmatched moral authority and national weight.โ
He added, โThe Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors stands on the brink of another nationwide industrial action โ Total and Indefinite Comprehensive Strike (TICS 2.0) โ triggered by the failure of the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Government to honour the Memorandum of Understanding freely entered into with NARD.โ
Ibrahim described the situation as troubling, not just for healthcare delivery, but for trust between the government and medical professionals.
โThis development is deeply distressing, not only because of its implications for healthcare delivery, but because it represents a breakdown of trust, sincerity, and good faith in governmentโprofessional relations,โ he said.
The association explained that resident doctors are central to healthcare delivery in Nigeriaโs tertiary hospitals and are already overstretched and demoralised.
NARD also outlined the steps it took before the situation reached its current stage.
โFor clarity, the sequence of events over the past few months underscores NARDโs patience and restraint,โ the statement said.
โFollowing the suspension of the warning strike, NARD issued a two-week ultimatum, which elapsed without any meaningful response from the Federal Ministry of Health or the Federal Government at the last AGM.โ
It continued, โThis ultimatum was subsequently extended by 30 days as a form of goodwill, again without response. A further seven-day extension was granted, still without response.โ
The association said the failure of these steps led to the commencement of its earlier strike, which eventually resulted in the signing of the MoU.
โToday marks the 31st day after the signing of the MoU, yet there has been no visible or substantive progress on its implementation,โ NARD said.
โIn this context, it is only fair to state that resident doctors should not be blamed if industrial action resumes, having repeatedly demonstrated patience while government obligations remain unmet.โ
NARD warned that another strike would lead to a total disruption of hospital services and affect millions of patients across the country.
โIt is important to emphasise that NARD has shown uncommon restraint and patriotism,โ the association said.
โStrikes were suspended, timelines were extended, and multiple conciliatory meetings were honoured, all in the hope that commitments made by the government would translate into concrete action.โ
It added, โRegrettably, most of these commitments remain unfulfilled, while agreed deadlines have been ignored without explanation.โ
The association appealed to senior medical professionals and respected elders to intervene and help pressure the government to act.
โDistinguished elders, resident doctors form the backbone of service delivery in Nigeriaโs tertiary hospitals,โ the statement said.
โThey are overworked, continue to experience breakdowns, and are increasingly demoralised. When agreements addressing our welfare endorsed by the Federal Government are treated with levity, it sends a dangerous signal that sacrifice, dialogue and professionalism no longer count.โ
NARD urged the elders to act quickly.
โWe therefore humbly but urgently appeal to you to prevail on the Federal Ministry of Health, and by extension the Federal Government, to take immediate and visible steps to honour the MoU with NARD,โ it said.
โYour timely intervention can still avert this looming crisis, restore confidence and prevent yet another avoidable disruption to healthcare services across the country.โ
The association concluded by stressing the importance of the moment.
โHistory has shown that when respected medical elders speak, governments listen,โ it said.
โThis is one of those defining moments where your intervention can preserve industrial harmony, safeguard patientsโ lives and protect the integrity of our profession. Nigeriaโs patients, our colleagues and the future of the nationโs health system are counting on you.โ
As of the time of filing this report, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare had not responded to the warning.
