By Lagos Times Correspondent
ABUJA, NIGERIA — The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has agreed to halt its planned nationwide strike following a high-level intervention by the Presidency at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The resolution came on Tuesday evening after a three-hour meeting chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, alongside the Ministers of Labour, Health, and Finance, the Director-General of the Budget Office, and the Accountant-General of the Federation.
NARD had previously issued an ultimatum threatening an indefinite nationwide industrial action set to commence at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, August 10, 2026, over unresolved welfare and salary grievances.
Key Operational Highlights
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Implementation Timelines: The Federal Government committed to a strict one-week timeline to process and settle outstanding salary and promotion arrears.
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Monthly Salary Guarantee: A standing executive directive was issued ensuring that resident doctors’ salaries across federal health institutions must be paid on or before the 10th of every month.
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Welfare & Allowances: Both parties agreed on finalization templates for 19 months of accumulated professional allowance arrears, CONMESS adjustment balances (25% to 35%), and specific call-duty allowance disputes affecting workers at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).
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Legislative Action on Workplace Safety: To curb rising violent attacks against medical personnel, the Chief of Staff initiated legislative steps to classify assaults on healthcare workers as aggravated criminal offences nationwide.
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Budget Integration: Negotiations on the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) will be fast-tracked to ensure necessary financial computations are captured in the upcoming 2027 national budget.
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ NARD & PRESIDENCY TRUCE RESOLUTION MATRIX │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ • Lead Negotiator : Femi Gbajabiamila (Chief of Staff to President) │
│ │
│ • Union Delegation : Dr. Mohammad Usman Suleiman (NARD President) │
│ │
│ • Key Issues : CONMESS arrears, 19 months professional allowance,│
│ promotion arrears, LUTH disputes, troop safety │
│ │
│ • Agreed Timelines : • Salary & Promotion Arrears : 1-Week Target │
│ • Monthly Salary Deadline : By 10th Monthly │
│ • CBA Computations : 2027 Budget Plan │
│ │
│ • Status : Strike averted; implementation monitored │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘“Today, I Can Tell You Our Matters Are Resolved”
Commending the intervention of the Presidential Villa following the deliberations, NARD President, Dr. Mohammad Usman Suleiman, expressed confidence in the agreed timelines:
“I want to put it on record that this is not the first time the Chief of Staff has intervened in matters relating to resident doctors in this country. About six or seven years ago, when he was Speaker of the House of Representatives, he intervened, and each time he has gotten involved, our matters have been resolved. Today, I can tell you that our issues have been resolved… On salary arrears and promotion arrears, we are talking about a one-week timeline.” — Dr. Mohammad Usman Suleiman, NARD President
Highlighting the legislative push to protect healthcare providers from physical violence, Dr. Suleiman added:
“The Chief of Staff has initiated moves for legislation that would classify assaults on healthcare workers as aggravated offences… The Ministry of Health will also issue directives to hospitals to strengthen security, create safer working environments, and embark on public awareness campaigns aimed at curbing violence against healthcare workers.” — Dr. Mohammad Usman Suleiman, NARD President
