Members of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) would on Tuesday begin an indefinite nationwide strike after the Federal Government plan to halt the implementation of the revised professional allowance table (PAT).
NARD’s Secretary-General, Shuaibu Ibrahim, announced this after the virtual extraordinary national executive council (NEC) meeting on Saturday.
He said the strike would start at 12:00 a.m.
Ibrahim said the development was as “unfortunate,” adding that the FG was pushing doctors toward another round of industrial action.
NARD said “the national executive council was informed about the federal government’s decision to remove the professional allowance table, a development deemed unfortunate.
“Following extensive deliberations, the NEC resolved to embark on a total industrial and comprehensive strike beginning at 12:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.”
According to the association, the FG plan to stop the allowance undermined trust and breaches earlier agreements.
It demanded an immediate reversal of the decision, along with the payment of all outstanding entitlements.
Ibrahim said “we demand the reversal of the decision to cease the implementation of the PAT starting in April 2026.
“There must be immediate payment of promotion arrears and salary arrears for specific centres, as well as the prompt conclusion of the process of paying the 2026 medical residency training fund.
“We also insist on the immediate processing and payment of the outstanding 19 months’ arrears of the professional allowance.”
The association told its members across the country to remain united and see the action through to a “logical conclusion.”
The dispute follows the implementation of a revised professional allowance table previously agreed upon by NARD and the federal government after a prolonged strike in 2025.
According to the agreement, there shall be improved remuneration for resident doctors, including call duty allowances, shift allowances, rural posting incentives, and payments for non-clinical duties.
It’s implementation was initially slated for January 2026 but later moved to February, adding that the government now plans to discontinue the process by April.
