The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its planned nationwide strike following what it described as significant progress recorded on its demands through sustained engagements with the Federal Government and other key stakeholders.
The decision was taken at a virtual Emergency National Executive Council (E-NEC) meeting held on January 11, 2026, where the association reviewed the status of its demands and assessed recent developments.
The association said the suspension followed direct presidential intervention led by Vice President Kashim Shettima on behalf of President Bola Tinubu.
The suspension, the Secretary-General of NARD, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim, said, is strategic and conditional, allowing the NEC to review tangible progress at its January meeting scheduled to commence on January 25, 2026.
“The NEC unanimously resolved to suspend the resumption of TICS 2.0 based on firm commitments from critical stakeholders and the direct presidential intervention led by the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, acting on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the statement partly read.
NARD also expressed appreciation to its members and stakeholders for their support, stating that it remains confident that the Vice President’s intervention will lead to a lasting resolution of long-standing challenges in Nigeria’s health sector.
FTH Crisis
On the lingering crisis at the Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH), Lokoja, NARD said an earlier committee report had been implemented, while a new reconciliation committee has been constituted to ensure peace and harmony among medical professionals at the facility.
The association also reported progress on the payment of outstanding CONMESS arrears, accoutrement allowances, promotion and salary arrears, as well as steps toward resolving issues relating to entry-level placement, locum practice, specialist allowances, and house officers’ welfare.
The association had said that more than 2,000 of its members had yet to be paid arrears of the 25–35 per cent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), despite claims by the Federal Government that the outstanding payments have been settled.
Responding to the Federal Government’s assertion that seven out of the 19 demands by the association had been statutorily addressed, including the full payment of seven months’ arrears of the CONMESS adjustment, Suleman said some doctors were still unpaid.
“On the seven months’ arrears of 25–35 per cent, we still have over 2,000, almost 3,000 of our members who are yet to be paid those arrears,” he said.
To avert a shutdown of the health sector, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria stepped in last Friday, issuing an interim order restraining the doctors from commencing its planned “TICS 2.0” strike scheduled for January 12, 2026.
Justice Emmanuel Subilim made the order while ruling on a motion ex parte filed by the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), following mounting tension between the government and resident doctors over unresolved welfare and professional concerns.
