Resident doctors at the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, have officially thrown their weight behind the upcoming nationwide industrial action. The move, which was confirmed following an emergency virtual meeting held on Sunday, January 4, signals a unified front with the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) as they prepare to down tools starting this Monday.
The association’s leadership expressed deep frustration over the Federal Government’s failure to honor the Memorandum of Understanding signed back in November 2025. That agreement had originally brought an end to a nearly month-long strike, but doctors now say the government has shown a lack of sincerity in fulfilling its promises. Dr. Grace Adeniyi, who represented the association’s chairman, Dr. Chidi Ikwumezie, during a press briefing, noted that despite giving the authorities ample time to act, no real progress has been made on their welfare and professional demands.
The strike, which has been described as total, indefinite, and comprehensive, is scheduled to take effect at midnight on Monday, January 12, 2026. The doctors have adopted a firm stance with the slogan “No Implementation, No Going Back,” insisting that they will not return to their duty posts until every point in the agreement is fully addressed.
Among the core issues fueling this renewed crisis are the immediate reinstatement of five doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital in Lokoja and the payment of long-overdue salary and promotion arrears. The doctors are also demanding the full implementation of the corrected professional allowance table, which they insist must be reflected in the 2026 federal budget.
Recognizing the impact this will have on patients and the healthcare system, the association has called on stakeholders and civil society groups to intervene. They are urging the public to help pressure the government into taking urgent action, stating that the long-term health of the nation depends on resolving these lingering disputes and treating medical professionals with the respect their roles deserve.
