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The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued the Federal Government a final ultimatum, warning that it will embark on a nationwide indefinite strike from August 10 if outstanding agreements on doctors\' welfare and healthcare reforms are not implemented.
The warning was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the association\'s week-long National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Gombe State from July 26 to July 31.
The communiqué was jointly signed by NARD President, Dr. Mohammad Suleiman, Secretary-General, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim, and Publicity Secretary, Dr. Abdulmajid Yahya.
According to the association, the Federal Government has until 8:00 a.m. on Monday, August 10, 2026, to fully implement the provisions of an earlier Memorandum of Understanding or face a total, comprehensive and indefinite industrial action across public health institutions.
The resident doctors expressed concern over what they described as the worsening state of Nigeria\'s healthcare sector, citing persistent attacks on medical personnel, poor remuneration, unpaid salary and promotion arrears, and deteriorating working conditions.
They also condemned the alleged intimidation and unfair treatment of resident doctors at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), calling on the Federal Government to urgently address the situation.
NARD lamented the sharp decline in the country\'s medical workforce, noting that the number of resident doctors had dropped from about 25,000 eleven years ago to just over 12,000, despite Nigeria\'s growing population of more than 230 million people.
The association said approximately 10,000 resident doctors currently work in federal health institutions, while only about 2,000 serve in state-owned and private health facilities nationwide, raising concerns over the capacity of the healthcare system.
Among its key demands, NARD called for immediate payment of outstanding CONMESS salary adjustment arrears, 19 months of unpaid professional allowances, Medical Residency Training Fund entitlements, and other outstanding salary and promotion arrears.
The association also urged the government to establish stronger legal protection against assaults on healthcare workers, improve doctors\' welfare, reduce excessive workloads, rehabilitate healthcare facilities, and provide modern medical equipment across the country.
NARD stressed that it had repeatedly exercised patience by extending previous ultimatums but warned that further delays would no longer be tolerated, insisting that failure to meet its demands by the August 10 deadline would trigger an indefinite nationwide strike capable of disrupting healthcare services across public hospitals.
