Resident Doctors Announce Indefinite Nationwide Strike Over Unmet Demands

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has declared an indefinite nationwide strike set to begin on Friday, October 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m., following the Federal Government’s failure to meet its demands after a 30-day ultimatum.

The decision was reached during an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting that lasted over five hours on Saturday. The NEC, which serves as NARD’s highest decision-making body, unanimously voted to embark on a total and comprehensive shutdown of medical services in public hospitals across the country.

In a statement shared via his X handle on Sunday, NARD President, Dr. Mohammad Usman Suleiman, confirmed the development, saying the association’s leadership had fulfilled the mandate given by members nationwide.

> “The NEC has unanimously directed us to declare a TOTAL, COMPREHENSIVE AND INDEFINITE STRIKE ACTION to commence on Friday, 31st October 2025, at 11:59 p.m.,” Suleiman announced.



He added that the association’s National Officers Committee (NOC) would ensure full compliance with the NEC’s directive.

According to Suleiman, new operational guidelines have been issued for all hospital branches, including strike monitoring, “no work, no pay” or “no pay, no work” policies, and state-level coordination. Each NARD branch has also been instructed to convene an emergency congress to brief members and ensure uniform participation.

The NARD president accused certain “elements within and outside government” of working against the welfare of young doctors, vowing that the association would resist any exploitative policies.

> “Some elements in government and non-governmental sectors have very evil and exploitative plans for resident doctors in this country. We shall collectively resist it,” he said.



Suleiman urged doctors to properly hand over patients before the strike begins and continue public engagement efforts. Activities scheduled before the strike include inpatient handovers, media sensitisation, meetings with traditional and religious leaders, and mobilisation at local congresses.

He also encouraged members to remain united, assuring them that “victory is certain.”

The association is expected to release a full communiqué and press briefing in the coming days to outline its minimum demands and next steps.

The looming strike threatens to worsen the strain on Nigeria’s healthcare system, which is already grappling with severe manpower shortages as many doctors continue to migrate abroad in search of better opportunities.