The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its planned indefinite nationwide strike following last-minute intervention by Vice President Kashim Shettima and other top government officials.
The decision offers temporary relief to patients across the country who had feared a shutdown of healthcare services.
The association said the suspension came after high-level engagements involving key stakeholders, including ministers in the health, labour, and finance sectors, as well as security officials.
NARD, however, issued a strict two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to implement concrete, measurable, and verifiable actions addressing its demands.
Central to the doctors’ grievances are the planned reversal of the reviewed Professional Allowance Table (PAT), unpaid promotion and salary arrears, and 19 months of outstanding professional allowance payments.
The association stressed that these unresolved issues continue to affect morale and the sustainability of healthcare delivery nationwide.
Despite acknowledging assurances from the government, NARD warned it would not hesitate to resume the suspended strike without further notice if its demands are not met within the stipulated timeframe.
The association emphasized that the coming weeks will be critical in determining the next line of action.
Meanwhile, doctors at the Federal Medical Centre Abeokuta have complied with the national directive, suspending their strike in solidarity.
Their local chairman reiterated that failure by the government to act within two weeks could trigger a fresh industrial action, underscoring the fragile truce in Nigeria’s health sector.