The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on Friday, 12 September 2025, began a five-day nationwide warning strike, despite assurances from the Federal Government that the action would be averted.

Resident doctors, who are medical graduates undergoing specialist training, form the backbone of Nigeria’s emergency wards and are critical to the delivery of healthcare across the country.

The strike was confirmed in a statement titled “Declaration of Strike Action”, signed by NARD’s Secretary-General, Dr Oluwasola Odunbaku. The statement followed a resolution of the association’s emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on Wednesday, 10 September, and concluded in the early hours of Thursday, 11 September.

The strike commenced at 8 a.m. on Friday and is expected to end on Tuesday, 16 September. It came after a 24-hour ultimatum issued to the Federal Government expired without resolution. That ultimatum followed an earlier 10-day deadline, which lapsed on 10 September.

“All centre leaderships are expected to guide their members accordingly. Further updates will be communicated to NEC members in due course,” Dr. Odunbaku stated in the message to members.

In a communiqué issued on 1 September, signed by NARD President Dr. Osundara, General Secretary Dr. Odunbaku, and Publicity and Social Secretary Dr. Omoha Amobi, the association listed its key demands. These include the immediate payment of the outstanding 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund, settlement of five months’ arrears from the 25–35 per cent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) review, and clearance of longstanding salary backlogs.

Other demands are the payment of the 2024 accoutrement allowance arrears, prompt disbursement of specialist allowances, recognition of West African postgraduate membership certificates, and issuance of certificates to qualified candidates by the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria. NARD also called for full implementation of the 2024 CONMESS, resolution of unresolved welfare issues in Kaduna State, and improved conditions for resident doctors at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso.

The development came despite assurances earlier in the week from the Minister of State for Health, Dr Isaq Salako, who expressed optimism that talks with NARD could avert the strike.

“The National Association of Resident Doctors has issued an ultimatum, but I believe with the level of conversation ongoing, we are making progress,” Salako said on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.

He explained that the major sticking point was the unpaid residency training allowance, noting that about 40 per cent of the 2025 allocation was still outstanding. “It is my hope, and that is what we are working on, that the matter will be resolved before the ultimatum expires,” he added.