By Charles Pemu 
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has declared a total, comprehensive, and indefinite strike set to commence at 12:00 AM (midnight) on Saturday, November 1, 2025, following the expiration of its 30-day ultimatum to the Federal Government.1
NARD President, Dr. Muhammad Suleiman, announced the decision at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, revealing that the Federal Government owes doctors and other health workers an estimated ₦35 billion to ₦38 billion in accumulated allowances and arrears.2
Dr. Suleiman emphasized that the outstanding payments affect all cadres of health professionals, including nurses, technicians, and administrative staff, with some arrears dating back over two years and one allowance error being over a decade old.
“For all the health care workers, I think the outstanding owed is about N35-38bn… Beyond the unpaid benefits, he noted that doctors had suffered stagnant salaries for 16 years despite rising workloads and worsening staff shortages in the health sector.”3
The outstanding financial entitlements specifically cited include:
- The 25-35 per cent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) review arrears.
- Outstanding arrears of the Accoutrement Allowance for all doctors.
Dr. Suleiman confirmed that resident doctors have already begun ward rounds and patient-handover procedures in preparation for the nationwide industrial action.
NARD’s 19-Point Demand to Avert Strike
Following its Extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, NARD presented 19 non-negotiable demands, describing them as the minimum expectations required to prevent the strike:4
| Category | Key Demands |
| Financial Arrears | Immediate payment of outstanding 25-35% CONMESS arrears and all other financial entitlements, including the 2024 Accoutrement Allowance. |
| Workplace Conditions | Immediate constitution of a task force to implement a clear and humane ‘working-hours policy’ in line with international best practices. |
| Staffing & Replacement | Immediate implementation of the one-for-one replacement policy to reduce excessive workload and physician burnout. |
| Hospital Management | Urgent upgrade of infrastructure and medical equipment in all healthcare facilities nationwide. |
| Unjust Termination | Immediate and unconditional reinstatement of five resident doctors unjustly terminated from Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, with full payment of outstanding entitlements. |
| Regulatory Issues | Immediate commencement of specialist allowance payments to all doctors. |
| Entry Level & Promotions | Immediate correction of all entry-level placements of doctors, decentralization of promotion processes, and full payment of arrears resulting from those corrections. |
Dr. Suleiman made a passionate appeal to President Bola Tinubu to intervene personally, demonstrate goodwill, and resolve the lingering issues affecting the health sector, pleading, “You are the father of the nation.5 Come into this matter, weigh into it, and solve it for us.”