The Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) chapter of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has confirmed it will join the nationwide strike scheduled for Monday, January 12, 2026. This action, tagged “TICS 2.0: No Implementation, No Going Back,” follows the alleged failure of the Federal Government to fulfill the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on November 29, 2025.
Despite a National Industrial Court injunction issued on Friday, January 9, restraining the association from the strike, NARD leadership has indicated that the resolve of its members remains “unshaken,” with many chapters across the 91 federal and state tertiary hospitals already preparing for a total shutdown of services.
Key Grievances & Demands
The strike centers on a 19-point demand list, with the ABUTH chapter highlighting several critical unresolved issues:
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The “Lokoja Five” Reinstatement: The MoU stipulated the immediate reinstatement of five resident doctors disengaged from the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja. Instead, the government reportedly proposed redeploying them—a move NARD says forces them to restart their residency training.
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Promotion & Salary Arrears: There are significant delays in paying compiled promotion arrears and the 25–35% Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) adjustment. NARD claims over 2,000 members are still owed these arrears.
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Welfare Allowances: The full implementation of the approved professional allowance table remains unachieved and was notably excluded from the 2026 National Budget.
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Training & Entry Level: Continued ambiguity regarding “skipping” and entry-level placement for doctors, and delays in issuing postgraduate training certificates.
Planned Actions at ABUTH
Dr. Yusuf Ibrahim, representing the ABUTH chapter, outlined a strategy beyond just “downing tools”:
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Indefinite Strike: A total withdrawal of clinical services starting at midnight on Monday.
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Picketing: Organized demonstrations within hospital premises.
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Peaceful Protests: Daily sessions scheduled from January 12 to January 16, 2026, to draw public attention to the deteriorating state of medical infrastructure and doctor welfare.
The National Health Crisis: A Dual Strike
The health sector is facing a severe “bottleneck” as resident doctors join the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU)—including nurses and laboratory staff—who have been on strike since mid-November 2025.
| Association | Action Type | Status (Jan 2026) | Primary Demand |
| NARD | Indefinite (TICS 2.0) | Starting Jan 12 | Implementation of Nov 2025 MoU |
| JOHESU | Indefinite | Ongoing since Nov 2025 | Adjusted health salary structure |
The “Japa” Context
NARD President, Dr. Mohammad Suleiman, emphasized that the strike is a fight for the “survival” of the profession. He noted that Nigeria’s active pool of resident doctors has dropped from 15,000 a decade ago to barely 9,000 today, largely due to poor pay and unsafe conditions—a trend commonly referred to as the “Japa syndrome.”
