The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) at the University of Port Harcourt has aligned with its national leadership in demanding the full implementation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the Federal Government, warning that it may resume an indefinite nationwide strike despite a court order restraining the action.
The MoU, which is based on NARD’s nineteen-point demands, covers key issues affecting resident doctors nationwide, including welfare, remuneration, and professional practice.
On Friday, Justice Emmanuel Subilim of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja, issued an ex parte order restraining NARD and its members from embarking on the planned strike scheduled to begin on January 12. The ruling followed a motion filed by the Federal Government and the Attorney General of the Federation, moved by the Director of Civil Litigation at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Maimuna Lami Shiru, who led a team of government lawyers.
However, speaking at a press briefing in Port Harcourt, the President of NARD Uniport, Dr. Ezinne Kalu, said the association had earlier suspended its strike in November 2025 based on assurances that the Federal Government would implement the agreed MoU.
According to her, the government has failed to honour those commitments.
“We suspended our strike in November last year with the understanding that the MoU signed with NARD would be fully implemented by the Federal Government. Unfortunately, that has not happened,” Dr. Kalu said.
She explained that the association reconvened an Emergency National Executive Council (E-NEC) meeting on January 2, 2026, following widespread dissatisfaction among members. The E-NEC, described as the highest decision-making body of the association, reviewed feedback from engagements with the Federal Government and assessed the level of compliance with earlier agreements.
The outcome of the meeting was contained in a communiqué signed by NARD’s National President, Dr. Mohammad Suleiman; General Secretary, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim; and Publicity Secretary, Abdulmajid Ibrahim.
The council raised serious concerns over several unresolved issues, including the redeployment of five disengaged resident doctors of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, which it said was contrary to the recommendations of an earlier committee. Other concerns include delays in processing promotions and salary arrears, partial implementation of the Professional Allowance Table, lack of clarity on entry-level placements, and continued exclusion of resident doctors from Specialist Allowance payments.
Additional grievances highlighted by the council include delayed payment of House Officers’ salaries, re-categorisation of membership certificates, slow regulation of locum engagements, prolonged working hours, stalled Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations, unpaid salaries and allowances in several institutions, unresolved arrears affecting about 40 per cent of members, deteriorating health infrastructure, obsolete medical equipment, delays in Special Pension Benefits, and slow progress on other previously agreed demands.
The National Executive Council called on the Federal Government to take immediate steps to address the issues, including reinstating the five Lokoja doctors, paying all outstanding arrears, fully implementing the Professional Allowance Table, clarifying entry-level placements, paying Specialist Allowances, and settling outstanding House Officers’ salaries.
It warned that failure to act would compel the association to resume the previously suspended indefinite strike by 12:00 a.m. on Monday, January 12, 2026.
The council further directed resident doctors across the country’s ninety-one tertiary health institutions to withdraw their services completely and indefinitely until the Federal Government and affected state governments demonstrate clear and genuine commitment to meeting the association’s demands.
NARD also instructed its national and state leadership to begin coordinated peaceful protests nationwide if the government fails to take decisive action.
Despite its grievances, the association expressed appreciation to several government officials and institutions for their support, including the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Esther Wilson-Jack; Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Senator Dr. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo; the Minister of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi; and the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Chief Wale Edun.
NARD Uniport Backs Nationwide Demand for Implementation, Threatens Strike Despite Court Order
