The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Abuja, has issued an order restraining the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and its members from embarking on the nationwide strike scheduled to commence on January 12.
Justice Emmanuel Subilim gave the order on Friday while ruling on a motion ex parte filed by the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
The ruling followed arguments presented by the Director of Civil Litigation at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Maimuna Lami Shiru, who led a team of government lawyers in moving the application before the court.
Named as respondents in the motion—and defendants in the substantive suit—are the National Association of Resident Doctors, its National President, Dr. Mohammad Suleman, and its Secretary-General, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim.
Earlier, on January 3, NARD had announced plans to resume what it described as a “Total, Indefinite and Complete Strike (TICS 2.0)” beginning January 12, citing the Federal Government’s alleged failure to implement agreements reached with the association.
In a statement issued by its president, Dr. Suleman, the decision was said to have been taken during an Emergency National Executive Council (E-NEC) meeting held on January 2.
According to NARD, the planned strike was the result of repeated unmet deadlines by the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Government regarding the implementation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed after the suspension of its last strike.
As part of preparations for the renewed industrial action, the NEC had directed presidents of all 91 NARD centres nationwide to convene congress meetings and brief the media.
“The National Officers’ Committee appreciates your patience, resilience, and continued support in our collective struggle for doctors’ welfare,” the association said.
It added that the NEC resolved to resume TICS 2.0 under the slogan ‘No Implementation, No Going Back’ from January 12, 2026, at 12:00 a.m., alongside centre-based protests scheduled to run from January 12 to January 16, 2026.
NARD also disclosed plans for regional protests at caucus leaders’ level, followed by a national protest to be coordinated by the association’s National Officers’ Committee.
The association stated that suspension of the strike would only be considered upon the full implementation of its minimum demands.
NARD had earlier called off its previous indefinite strike on November 29, after 29 days of industrial action, following the signing of the MoU in which the government pledged to meet its demands within four weeks.
The demands include the reinstatement of five resident doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja; payment of promotion and salary arrears; and the full implementation of the professional allowance table with arrears captured in the 2026 budget.
Other issues raised by the association include clarification on skipping and entry-level placement by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare; the reintroduction and implementation of specialist allowances; resolution of house officers’ salary delays and arrears; issuance of a pay advisory; re-categorisation and issuance of membership certificates after Part I examinations by the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria; commencement of locum and work-hours regulation committees; and the timely conclusion of the Collective Bargaining Agreement process.
NARD explained that the one-week notice before the planned strike was intended to allow adequate time for congress meetings, media engagement, and statutory notifications to security agencies—including the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps—as well as hospital managements nationwide.
