Nigeria’s resident doctors have entered the third week of their nationwide strike, insisting on a fair deal and better pay as the Federal Government struggles to respond to their demands.
Strike Enters Day 15
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) announced that its indefinite strike, which began on November 1, 2025, has now entered its 15th day The Punch. The union said the action was necessary after years of government delays in concluding a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and failure to review the outdated Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).
In a statement posted on X, NARD declared: “Dear Nigerians, Doctors Deserve a Fair Deal! For long we’ve waited for a Collective Bargaining Agreement, a simple, written promise that ensures fairness, clear work terms, and proper pay. But the government keeps delaying, while doctors face rising costs and crumbling morale.” The Punch
Impact on Hospitals Nationwide
The strike has paralyzed healthcare services in 91 hospitals across Nigeria, including federal teaching hospitals, specialist institutions, and medical centers The Punch. Reports from the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, show deserted wards, no surgeries, and collapsing revenue as the strike entered its 10th day earlier this week Vanguard. Emergency units and outpatient departments remain overwhelmed, leaving patients stranded.
Doctors’ Demands
At the heart of the strike are several key grievances:
Immediate conclusion of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
A 200 percent increase in CONMESS, the salary structure for doctors Vanguard.
Payment of accumulated entitlements, estimated at ₦38 billion owed to healthcare workers nationwide The Guardian Nigeria.
Recruitment of more clinical staff and removal of bureaucratic bottlenecks that delay replacement of doctors Vanguard.
Government Response and Public Outcry
The Federal Government has appealed for patience, but NARD insists that promises without action will no longer be tolerated. Editorials and civil society groups have urged the government to resolve the crisis, warning that prolonged strikes could worsen Nigeria’s already fragile healthcare system The Guardian Nigeria.
Patients across the country remain stranded, with many forced to seek expensive private care or abandon treatment altogether.
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