Resident Doctors Threaten Strike, Give Federal Government Four Weeks

ABUJA — Resident doctors in Nigerian teaching hospitals have issued a four-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to address a list of outstanding welfare, training, and allowance concerns, warning that a nationwide strike will follow if no satisfactory response is received within the period. Channels Television confirmed the threat on Monday.

The Association of Resident Doctors said its members have been patient in pursuing their demands through official dialogue channels but have run out of goodwill after months without meaningful government response. Key among the unresolved issues are hazard allowance payments, training fund disbursements, and staffing concerns at several federal teaching hospitals.

ARD President Dr Emeka Orji said the ultimatum is not a threat made lightly. He said resident doctors are essential to the functioning of Nigeria’s teaching hospital system, training the next generation of specialist doctors while simultaneously providing much of the clinical care in those facilities. A strike, he said, would be a measure of last resort but one the association is prepared to take.

A Pattern of Industrial Action

Nigerian medical workers have a long history of industrial disputes with the Federal Government over welfare conditions. The Joint Health Sector Unions have gone on multiple strikes in recent years, and resident doctors themselves staged a significant work stoppage in 2022 that disrupted care across the teaching hospital system for several weeks.

The Federal Ministry of Health said it is aware of the ARD’s concerns and has been in dialogue with the association. Ministry officials said efforts are being made to address outstanding payments within the constraints of the current fiscal environment, but acknowledged that budget releases have not always matched timelines committed to in previous negotiations.

Patient Welfare at Stake

If the strike proceeds, patients depending on teaching hospitals for specialist care would face severe disruption. Teaching hospitals handle some of Nigeria’s most complex medical cases, including cancer treatment, cardiac surgery, and specialist maternal care. Health advocates urged the government to resolve the dispute within the four-week window to protect patients who have no alternative facilities to turn to if strike action shuts down the system.