National Industrial Court Stops NARD Strike, FG Moves to Enforce Agreements with Doctors

National Industrial Court Stops NARD Strike, FG Moves to Enforce Agreements with Doctors

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) has halted the planned nationwide strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), originally scheduled to begin on January 12, 2026.

In a ruling delivered by Justice Emmanuel Subilim on a motion ex-parte filed by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), NARD and its members were restrained from embarking on the strike. The motion, marked NICN/ABJ/06/2026, named the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) as a party, with NARD, its National President Dr. Mohammad Usman Suleman, and Secretary General Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim listed as respondents.

Justice Subilim issued the ruling after hearing from Mrs. Maimuna Lami Shiru, Director of Civil Litigation at the Federal Ministry of Justice, who led a team of government lawyers in the ex-parte motion.

Despite the court injunction, the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) of the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, had earlier expressed support for NARD’s planned Total Indefinite Comprehensive Strike (TICS 2.0). In a statement signed by Dr. Awuzie Chinemezu Donald (President), Dr. Okedinachi Enweani (Secretary), and Dr. Maryam Ahmed Almustapha (PRO), the ARD cited the Federal Government’s failure to honour agreements, worsening welfare conditions, and systemic neglect as the driving forces behind the strike.

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The doctors’ nine-point demand list included:

• Reinstatement of five doctors dismissed from the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja
• Payment of salary arrears and outstanding promotions
• Implementation of professional allowances and capture of accrued arrears in the 2026 national budget
• Clarification on entry-level and skipping issues by the Ministry of Health and Office of the Head of Service
• Reintroduction of specialist allowances
• Resolution of house officers’ salary delays

The ARD warned that the healthcare system cannot function optimally when medical workers are disrespected, overworked, or subjected to broken agreements, emphasising their commitment to professional dignity and fair labour practices while urging the government to address outstanding welfare and administrative issues.

National Industrial Court Stops NARD Strike, FG Moves to Enforce Agreements with Doctors