The national industrial court in Abuja has granted an interim injunction restraining members of the Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) from embarking on any form of strike or industrial action.
E. D. Subilim, the presiding judge of the industrial court, issued the order on Friday following an ex parte application filed by the federal government and Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice.
The federal government instituted the suit against NARD, Mohammad Usman Suleman, its national president, and Shuaibu Ibrahim, the national secretary.
The association had announced that its members would embark on a strike from January 12 in response to the government’s failure to fully address long-standing welfare and professional demands of resident doctors.
However, in the ruling, the judge said the court was satisfied that the application met the requirements for granting an interim injunction, having considered the motion paper, attached affidavit and the written address.
“I have painstakingly listened to the submission of learned counsel to the claimants/applicants… and I find as follows,” the judge said.
“Upon reading the application… and the court being satisfied that this is a proper case for the grant of an interim injunction, it is hereby ordered as follows.”
He restrained the respondents, “their members, servants, agents, privies, and/or any other person acting on their behalf or at their directives,” from calling, directing, organising or participating in any form of industrial action.
“This includes strikes, work stoppages, go-slows, picketing or any other form of industrial protest or disruption,” the judge said.
The injunction also restrains the respondents from “taking steps preparatory to or in furtherance of any industrial action” from January 12, 2026, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive motion on notice.
Subilim ordered that the interim order “shall remain in force pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice fixed for the 21st of January 2026.”
He further directed the claimants to serve the respondents with the order within seven days, while granting the association, its president and secretary the liberty to apply to discharge or vary the order within seven days of service.
