The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, has declared its support for the total and indefinite strike announced by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), scheduled to commence at 12:00 midnight on Monday, January 12, 2026.
The resident doctors accused the Federal Government of what they described as insincerity and lack of commitment in implementing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with NARD following the suspension of the association’s 29-day strike in November 2025.
They said that more than one month after the government pledged to address key demands, little or no progress had been made, leaving them with no option but to join the renewed industrial action.
The Chairman of the association, Dr Chidi Ikwumezie, represented by his Vice Chairman, Dr Grace Adeniyi, made this known on Thursday while speaking with journalists at the resident doctors’ quarters of the hospital in Abeokuta.
According to Ikwumezie, the decision to align with the nationwide strike was reached after an emergency general meeting of the hospital’s resident doctors held virtually on Sunday, January 4, 2026.
“The Association of Resident Doctors of Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, hereby announces its decision to join the resumption of the nationwide strike declared by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), effective from 12:00 midnight on Monday, January 12, 2026.
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“This decision follows the Federal Government’s continued failure to fully implement the Memorandum of Understanding signed with resident doctors in November 2025, despite repeated engagements, assurances, and sufficient time given for compliance.”
He added that members extensively reviewed unresolved welfare and professional concerns affecting resident doctors nationwide during the meeting.
“At the end of the deliberations, members unanimously resolved to stand with the national body in the ongoing struggle for justice, improved welfare, and professional dignity,” he said.
The strike action, tagged TICS—Total, Indefinite and Comprehensive Strike, with the slogan “No Implementation, No Going Back,” will remain in force until all outstanding demands are fully addressed.
The ARD listed its demands to include the reinstatement of five resident doctors of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja; payment of all outstanding promotion and salary arrears; full implementation of the corrected professional allowance table, with arrears captured in the 2026 Federal Budget; and official clarification on skipping and entry-level placement issues by the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.
Other demands include the reintroduction and full payment of the Specialist Allowance, as well as the resolution of delays and arrears in House Officers’ salaries, including the issuance of a clear pay advisory.
The association reaffirmed its total and unwavering solidarity with NARD and resident doctors across the country, stressing that the strike had become unavoidable due to the government’s persistent failure to honour agreements it voluntarily entered into.
“The ARD remains firmly committed to safeguarding the welfare, professional dignity, and humane working conditions of its members,” the association said.
The resident doctors urged the Federal Government to act promptly to prevent a total shutdown of services in tertiary health institutions nationwide, warning that prolonged inaction could severely affect healthcare delivery and public wellbeing.
They also appealed to stakeholders, civil society organisations, and the general public to prevail on the government to take urgent steps in the interest of the nation’s health sector.
NARD had suspended its previous indefinite strike after 29 days in November 2025, a period during which healthcare services were heavily disrupted as about 11,000 resident doctors across 91 teaching hospitals withdrew their services over poor working conditions and unpaid allowances.
The strike, which began on November 1, 2025, was called off following deliberations at an Extraordinary National Executive Council meeting, after the signing of a MoU with the Federal Government.
The Secretary-General of NARD, Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim, later disclosed that only two out of the seven demands had been met, while the remaining five were expected to be resolved within four weeks, warning that failure to do so would trigger a resumption of the strike.
It is against this backdrop that the ARD of Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, has announced plans to join the renewed nationwide indefinite strike from next Monday.
