Resident doctors hint at suspending planned strike after meeting FG, Gbajabiamila

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) says issues surrounding its planned nationwide strike have largely been addressed following a meeting with the federal government.

The association had earlier warned it would embark on a strike from August 10 if its demands—ranging from unpaid salaries and allowances to broader welfare concerns across federal health institutions—were not met.

Speaking after a meeting with Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to President Bola Tinubu, NARD president Mohammad Suleiman said discussions yielded concrete agreements on key issues, including salaries, promotions, and welfare.

“Today, I can tell you, our matters are solved,” Suleiman said, noting however that a final decision on whether to call off the strike would be taken after consultations with the association’s national executive council.

He expressed confidence in the intervention, citing past instances where Gbajabiamila stepped in to resolve disputes involving resident doctors.

According to Suleiman, the meeting produced commitments tied to specific timelines. One of the immediate resolutions addresses welfare concerns at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, particularly meal-related entitlements, with implementation expected within a week.

He also said a directive has been issued to ensure that house officers receive their salaries promptly, with payments to be made before the 10th of every month.

Suleiman added that the presidency has instructed the ministries of labour and health to fast-track negotiations on a collective bargaining agreement so that provisions can be reflected in the 2027 budget cycle.

The NARD president further raised concerns about the safety of health workers, revealing that 31 doctors and over 20 other health workers had been assaulted in the past 10 months. He said the government has agreed to strengthen hospital security and launch public awareness campaigns to curb such incidents.

Gbajabiamila, he noted, has also committed to pushing for legislation that would classify assaults on health workers as a more serious criminal offence.

While acknowledging progress, Suleiman pointed out that although the government corrected salary shortfalls earlier in 2026, a backlog spanning 19 months from July 2024 remains unpaid.