A planned nationwide indefinite strike by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) is set to be called off following a three-hour meeting at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday with the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
The high-stakes intervention comes just days after NARD threatened to initiate a total and comprehensive industrial action from 8:00 am on 10 August 2026. The threat was initially issued in a communiqué following a National Executive Council meeting in Gombe State, where members reviewed the government’s failure to implement previous welfare and salary agreements.
Briefing journalists after the Villa meeting, NARD President Dr Muhammad Suleiman confirmed that firm commitments and specific resolution timelines had been agreed with the Federal Government. While formal suspension of the strike remains subject to consultation with NARD’s National Executive Council, Suleiman expressed confidence in the outcome.
“Today, I can tell you, our matters are solved,” Suleiman declared, praising the Chief of Staff’s long-standing history of resolving doctors’ grievances dating back to his tenure as House Speaker.
The meeting convened by Gbajabiamila brought together key government officials, including the Ministers of Labour, Health, and Finance, the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, the Accountant-General of the Federation, and heads of cash management and IPPIS.
Key agreements focused on immediate financial relief and systemic pay reform, setting firm timelines across government agencies to clear salary and promotion arrears, alongside resolving the LUTH meal allowance within a week. To end payment delays for interning junior doctors, a standing order was issued requiring house officers’ salaries to be paid before the 10th of every month.
Broader talks targeted long-standing payment disputes and future stability, with the Presidency ordering the health and labour ministries to fast-track NARD’s Collective Bargaining Agreement for inclusion in the next budget cycle. Officials also addressed the 19-month backlog of unpaid hazard and specialist allowance arrears dating from July 2024 to February 2026.
NARD highlighted that 31 doctors and over 20 health workers had been assaulted in the past 10 months alone. In response, the Ministry of Health committed to strengthening hospital security, establishing safe spaces, and launching public education campaigns to curb workplace violence.
Furthermore, Gbajabiamila pledged to sponsor legislative reforms at the National Assembly to classify attacks on medical personnel as aggravated offences.
“We are very glad with that. We think it will send the right signal that health workers should not be assaulted,” Suleiman noted.