Resident Doctors Suspend Strike After FG Promises Arrears

The planned shutdown of public hospitals across Nigeria has been averted, at least for now, after the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors announced it would suspend its proposed indefinite strike following fresh commitments from the Federal Government.

The decision came after an emergency National Executive Council meeting held virtually, where the association reviewed the outcome of recent negotiations with government representatives. Only days earlier, the doctors had signalled their intention to withdraw services nationwide over unresolved welfare issues, particularly disputes around allowances and long-standing salary arrears.

At the centre of the disagreement was the controversial halt in implementing the revised Professional Allowance Table (PAT), a structure that determines how resident doctors are paid. The suspension of that framework had triggered frustration across teaching hospitals and federal medical centres, with doctors warning that it undermined already strained working conditions.

However, the tone shifted after the government indicated a reversal of that decision. According to the doctors’ leadership, the revised allowance structure is now expected to take effect again, with indications that adjustments could begin reflecting in April salaries.

Beyond the allowance issue, the government also reiterated its intention to clear outstanding payments owed to resident doctors, including promotion arrears and delayed salaries across several institutions. For many doctors, these unresolved payments have stretched back months, contributing to growing dissatisfaction within the health sector.

A pause, not a resolution

While the suspension of the strike offers temporary relief to patients and hospital administrators, the association made it clear that its demands have not disappeared. Instead, this is being treated as a window to assess whether the government will follow through on its promises.

Part of those assurances includes progress on the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund, a critical support system for doctors in training. The association noted that preliminary approval has been secured, with expectations that disbursement processes will move forward.

There are also indications that steps are being taken to address nearly two years’ worth of unpaid allowance arrears, a backlog that has become symbolic of deeper structural issues in Nigeria’s healthcare financing. The Budget Office is said to be preparing the groundwork for these payments, although no firm timeline has been publicly confirmed.

Despite these developments, resident doctors raised fresh concerns about delays affecting house officers, many of whom are still waiting for salaries. The association urged authorities to treat the issue with urgency, warning that unresolved gaps at entry-level positions could worsen staffing shortages in the system.

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The strike suspension, therefore, comes with conditions. The doctors are demanding consistent implementation of the allowance structure, immediate action on arrears, and faster intervention on salary delays. They also want a broader stakeholders’ meeting convened to address recurring bottlenecks in the system.

For now, the decision provides breathing space for Nigeria’s fragile healthcare system, which often struggles to cope with disruptions. But with a review already scheduled for the association’s next general meeting, the coming weeks will determine whether this truce holds, or whether the threat of another strike returns.