The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced plans to resume its industrial action on January 12.
In an update issued after its emergency national executive council (E-NEC) meeting held on January 2, the association said the decision was taken in response to the government’s failure to fully address long-standing welfare and professional demands of resident doctors.
According to the statement signed Muhammad Suleiman, NARD president, the NEC resolved that the strike would commence at 12:00 am on Monday, January 12, 2026.
As part of preparations for the action, NEC directed all 91 NARD centres nationwide to hold congress meetings and follow them up with press conferences aimed at drawing public attention to their demands.
“We want 91 press conferences to saturate the spaces over the next seven days,” the statement reads.
NARD also announced a phased protest plan, beginning with centre-based protests from January 12 to 16, followed by regional protests coordinated by caucus leaders, and culminating in a national protest to be organised by the NARD national officers’ committee (NOC).
The association listed nine minimum demands that must be fully implemented before any suspension of TICS 2.0 would be considered.
The demands include the reinstatement of five doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, payment of promotion and salary arrears, and full implementation of the professional allowance table with arrears captured in the 2026 budget.
Other demands include the re-introduction of the specialist allowance, resolution of house officers’ salary delays, official clarification on skipping and entry-level issues by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and the resumption and conclusion of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) process.
“TICS 2.0 suspension will only be considered after full implementation of the following minimum demands,” the statement reads.
NARD explained that the one-week window before the resumption of the strike was deliberately created to allow for internal consultations, media engagement, and statutory notifications to security agencies, including the DSS, the police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, as well as hospital managements.
“The NOC appreciates the guidance of NEC and assures all members of full commitment to these resolutions. Engagements will be intensified in the coming days,” the statement reads.
