‎NARD WARNS OF NATIONWIDE HEALTHCARE SHUTDOWN OVER FG’S FAILURE TO IMPLEMENT MoU

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

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‎The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has warned that Nigeria may soon experience another nationwide shutdown of medical services, following the Federal Government’s failure to implement a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) earlier signed with the association.

‎In an urgent appeal posted on X on Sunday, titled “Urgent Appeal to Avert a Looming Nationwide NARD Strike (TICS 2.0),” the association’s Secretary-General, Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim, cautioned that the country was on the brink of a total and indefinite comprehensive strike.

‎NARD said the looming industrial action was a direct consequence of the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Government’s repeated failure to meet agreed deadlines for implementing the MoU reached with resident doctors.

‎The association recalled that it suspended an earlier indefinite strike on November 29, after 29 days of industrial action, following the signing of the MoU in which the government committed to meeting its demands within four weeks.

‎However, NARD warned that the failure to implement the agreement within the stipulated timeframe had pushed the association to the edge of resuming industrial action.

‎“The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors stands on the brink of another nationwide industrial action Total and Indefinite Comprehensive Strike (TICS 2.0) triggered by the failure of the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Government to honour the Memorandum of Understanding freely entered into with NARD,” the statement said.

‎Describing the situation as a breakdown of trust, sincerity and good faith in government–professional relations, NARD stressed that resident doctors constitute the backbone of service delivery in Nigeria’s tertiary hospitals and are already overworked and increasingly demoralised.

‎The association detailed a series of ultimatums and extensions granted to the government, including a two-week ultimatum, a 30-day goodwill extension and an additional seven-day extension, all of which elapsed without meaningful response.

‎According to NARD, limited engagement only occurred after the commencement of its earlier industrial action, which eventually led to the signing of the MoU with clear timelines. It noted that 31 days after the agreement, there had been no visible or substantive progress on its implementation.

‎“It is only fair to state that resident doctors should not be blamed if industrial action resumes, having repeatedly demonstrated patience while government obligations remain unmet,” the association said.

‎NARD warned that a failure to honour the MoU could result in a total disruption of hospital services nationwide, potentially affecting millions of patients.

‎The association appealed to senior medical professionals and respected elders in the health sector to intervene, saying their moral authority and influence could compel the government to act swiftly and avert another crisis.

‎“History has shown that when respected medical elders speak, governments listen. Your timely intervention can still avert this looming crisis, restore confidence and prevent yet another avoidable disruption to healthcare services across the country,” the statement added.

‎As of press time, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare had not responded to the development.

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