The National Industrial Court of Nigeria has issued an interim order restraining the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors from embarking on a nationwide strike scheduled to commence on January 12. The order, given by Justice Emmanuel Subilim, also bars the association from taking steps preparatory to any industrial action. This development comes after the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Attorney General of the Federation filed an ex parte motion.
The suit lists the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, its National President, Mohammad Suleiman, and its Secretary General, Shuaibu Ibrahim, as respondents. The court’s order restrains the association, its members, agents, and privies from engaging in any form of industrial action, including strikes, work stoppages, and picketing, pending the hearing and determination of a motion on notice.
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors had announced plans to resume its Total, Indefinite and Complete Strike, citing the federal government’s failure to implement agreements reached with the association. The strike, tagged “No Implementation, No Going Back,” was expected to commence at midnight on January 12 unless the government met the association’s outstanding demands. The association had directed its members to convene congress meetings and address the media as part of preparations for the strike.
The dispute between the association and the federal government stems from the government’s failure to implement the association’s demands, including the reinstatement of five resident doctors, payment of promotion and salary arrears, and the full implementation of the professional allowance table. The association had suspended an earlier indefinite strike on November 29, 2025, after signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the federal government, which committed to implementing the association’s demands within four weeks. However, the government missed repeated deadlines for implementation, prompting the planned resumption of the strike.
The court has fixed January 21 for the hearing of the substantive motion and directed the claimants to serve the respondents with the order within seven days. The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has been granted liberty to apply to vary or discharge the order. The outcome of the hearing will determine the next steps in the dispute between the association and the federal government.
