The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) has announced its participation in the nationwide indefinite strike set to begin on Monday. The strike aims to push for the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on November 29, 2025, between NARD and the Federal Government.
According to Dr. Yusuf Ibrahim, Vice-President of the ABUTH chapter, the decision to join the strike was unanimously endorsed by members during a congress. In addition to the work stoppage, the chapter will also engage in picketing and peaceful protests within the hospital premises. Dr. Ibrahim explained that the MoU, which has clear timelines for implementation, was signed after NARD’s initial nationwide strike on November 1, 2025.
The MoU addresses 19 demands related to welfare, remuneration, and professional practice issues affecting resident doctors across the country. One of the key provisions, with a two-week implementation timeline, is the reinstatement of disengaged resident doctors from the Federal Teaching Hospital in Lokoja, Kogi. However, the government has failed to reinstate these doctors, instead attempting to redeploy them to other hospitals, contrary to the MoU’s provisions.
The ABUTH chapter has expressed concerns over the delay in forwarding compiled promotion arrears owed to resident doctors to the Budget Office and the Federal Ministry of Finance for payment. The chapter also criticized the lack of full implementation of the approved professional allowance table, including accrued arrears, which was not captured in the 2026 national budget.
Furthermore, the association has raised concerns about the ambiguity surrounding skipping and entry-level placement, urging the Federal Ministry of Health to issue clear directives to chief executives of health institutions and other stakeholders. The ABUTH chapter’s decision to re-join the nationwide strike is due to the federal government’s failure to demonstrate a clear commitment to implementing the MoU.
The strike is set to commence on Monday, with resident doctors across the country demanding that the government honor the agreements outlined in the MoU. The implementation of these agreements is crucial for addressing the welfare and professional practice issues affecting resident doctors, and the strike is expected to have significant implications for the healthcare sector.
