RESIDENT DOCTORS TO RESUME STRIKE JANUARY 12 OVER UNMET MoU WITH FG
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By: Sefiu Ajape
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced that it will resume its Total, Indefinite and Complete Strike (TICS 2.0) on January 12, 2026.
The association had last week warned of a possible nationwide shutdown of medical services over the Federal Government’s failure to implement a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) earlier signed with the doctors.
In a statement posted on X and signed by its President, Dr. Mohammad Suleiman, NARD said the decision followed resolutions reached at its Emergency National Executive Council (E-NEC) meeting held on Friday.
According to the association, the renewed industrial action is aimed at pressing home its demands, which remain unresolved despite repeated deadlines issued to the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Government.
The statement noted that the strike, tagged “No Implementation, No Going Back,” will resume on Monday, January 12, 2026, at 12:00 a.m., unless the government fully meets its outstanding obligations.
NARD said the resumption of TICS 2.0 is an inevitable outcome of what it described as the government’s continued failure to implement the provisions of the MoU signed with resident doctors.
As part of preparations for the renewed strike, the NEC directed presidents of all 91 NARD centres across the country to convene congress meetings and subsequently address the media.
“The National Officers’ Committee appreciates your patience, resilience, and continued support in our collective struggle for doctors’ welfare.
“Following the E-NEC meeting, the following resolutions were reached: NEC resolved to resume TICS 2.0, tagged ‘No Implementation, No Going Back,’ with effect from January 12, 2026, by 12:00 a.m.
“NEC has also mandated every centre president from the 91 centres to hold a congress meeting and, at the end, address the media,” the statement said.
NARD added that 91 press conferences are expected to be held nationwide within seven days to highlight the welfare concerns of resident doctors.
The association also announced plans for centre-based protests scheduled to run from January 12 to January 16, 2026.
“We will then resume TICS 2.0 on Monday, January 12, 2026, at 12:00 a.m. NEC has also directed centre-based protests from January 12 to 16, 2026.
“After the center-based protests, regional protests at the caucus leaders’ level shall be carried out.
“NEC has also directed a national protest to be organised by the NARD NOC,” it stated.
According to NARD, the suspension of TICS 2.0 will only be considered after the full implementation of its minimum demands.
The association recalled that it suspended its previous indefinite strike on November 29, after 29 days of industrial action, following the signing of the MoU with the Federal Government.
Under the agreement, the government committed to meeting NARD’s demands within four weeks.
The demands include the reinstatement of five resident doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja; payment of promotion and salary arrears; and the full implementation of the professional allowance table, with arrears captured in the 2026 budget.
Other demands listed by NARD are official clarification on skipping and entry-level issues by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the reintroduction and implementation of the specialist allowance, resolution of house officers’ salary delays and arrears, and the issuance of a pay advisory.
The association is also seeking the re-categorization and issuance of membership certificates after Part I examinations by the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, the commencement of locum and work-hours regulation committees, and the resumption and timely conclusion of the Collective Bargaining Agreement process.
NARD explained that the one-week notice period before the resumption of the strike is intended to allow for congress meetings, media engagement, and statutory notifications to security agencies, including the Department of State Services, the police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, as well as hospital managements.
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