BREAKING: Nigerian Resident Doctors Announce 5-Day Nationwide Warning Strike

The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has officially declared a five-day nationwide warning strike, scheduled to begin on Friday, September 12, 2025, in a bid to push forward their longstanding demands.

The announcement was contained in a statement released on Thursday by the General Secretary of the Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCT-ARD), Dr. Agbor Affiong.

According to the statement, the resolution to embark on industrial action followed the outcome of the National Executive Council (NEC) online meeting of the association, which commenced on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, and lasted until the early hours of Thursday, September 11, 2025.

“Following deliberations at the NARD E-NEC meeting held on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, and which extended into the early hours of Thursday, September 11, 2025, members of the NEC unanimously agreed to commence a five-day nationwide warning strike,” the statement declared.

It further emphasized that the strike would officially start at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, September 12, 2025, and is expected to conclude on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.

“All medical centres across the country are instructed to notify their respective hospital managements accordingly, while ensuring that the collective demands of the doctors are strongly pursued,” the statement added.

Speaking earlier on Tuesday, the NARD President, Dr. Osundara Zenith, disclosed to LMSINT MEDIA that resident doctors nationwide were prepared to shut down public health facilities in protest against persistent issues such as:

• Unfavourable working conditions
• Irregular power supply affecting hospital operations
• Devaluation and downgrading of professional certificates
• Inadequate remuneration packages
• Other pressing welfare-related concerns

It is also important to note that the FCT chapter of the Association of Resident Doctors has been on a separate seven-day warning strike since Monday of the same week, further compounding the challenges facing the healthcare system.

This latest development signals rising tension within the health sector, as Nigerian doctors continue to demand urgent reforms to address the crisis affecting medical practice and healthcare delivery across the nation.