By Obinna Uballa
Hospitals across Nigeria face fresh disruption as resident doctors today embarked on a five-day warning strike, leaving thousands of patients at risk of being stranded.
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) announced the action after what it called the Federal Government’s persistent failure to resolve unpaid allowances, salary arrears, and other welfare concerns.
Resident doctors form the backbone of the country’s public health system, handling the majority of clinical services in federal and state hospitals. Past strikes by the group have paralysed healthcare delivery, forcing patients to wait endlessly or seek costly alternatives.
In a statement signed by NARD Secretary-General, Dr. Oluwasola Odunbaku, the association said the strike commenced at 8 a.m. Friday following the expiration of its final ultimatum.
Among the unresolved demands are the disbursement of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund, payment of five months’ arrears from the revised Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, and outstanding specialist and hazard allowances.
According to the resident foctors, the decision to withdraw services was taken after a six-hour emergency meeting of NARD’s National Executive Council, which accused the government of “inaction” despite multiple deadlines and extensions.
With doctors downing tools, public hospitals are expected to struggle under the weight of mounting patient needs for the next five days.
