By Ado Oyeyemi
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has indicated it will suspend its planned nationwide strike following a crucial meeting with the Presidency that produced fresh commitments to address long-standing welfare and salary concerns.
The breakthrough came after a closed-door meeting chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday.
The session, which lasted about three hours, was attended by top government officials, including the Ministers of Labour, Health and Finance, as well as representatives of the Budget Office, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, cash management authorities and the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System.
Speaking after the meeting, NARD President, Dr Muhammad Suleiman, expressed optimism that most of the issues that prompted the association’s strike threat had been substantially resolved.
He said both parties agreed on clear timelines for implementing outstanding salary adjustments, promotions and welfare packages, adding that discussions also covered unresolved issues such as the meal subsidy at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.
According to Suleiman, the Federal Government has also directed that salaries of house officers be paid on or before the 10th day of every month to eliminate the persistent delays that have affected newly employed doctors.
He further disclosed that the Presidency instructed the Ministries of Health and Labour to fast-track negotiations on the Collective Bargaining Agreement so that agreed provisions could be incorporated into the 2027 budget for implementation.
The NARD president also raised concerns over the increasing attacks on health workers, revealing that no fewer than 31 doctors and more than 20 other healthcare personnel had been assaulted within the last 10 months.
He said the Federal Ministry of Health had undertaken to strengthen security across public hospitals and embark on public enlightenment campaigns aimed at discouraging assaults on medical workers.
Suleiman added that the Chief of Staff had pledged to champion legislation that would classify attacks on healthcare workers as aggravated offences, a move he described as a significant step towards improving the safety of medical professionals.
On the lingering dispute over unpaid hazard and specialist allowances, he explained that although the Federal Government corrected previous payment shortfalls earlier this year, some outstanding arrears dating back to July 2024 remain unresolved.
He, however, noted that government officials had assured the association that payment timelines would soon be finalised.
Despite expressing satisfaction with the outcome of the meeting, Suleiman said the planned strike could only be officially suspended after consultations with the association’s National Executive Council.
He explained that while he was confident the discussions had substantially addressed members’ grievances, the final decision rested with the union’s leadership.
A source familiar with the meeting, however, disclosed that NARD leaders privately assured the Presidency that the proposed industrial action would be called off following the agreements reached.
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The intervention followed the association’s earlier resolution to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike from August 10 over unresolved salary arrears, welfare issues and other longstanding demands affecting resident doctors across the country’s teaching and specialist hospitals.
