January 9, 2026 | SUNTV Global Channel | News
The National Industrial Court in Abuja has halted the planned nationwide strike by resident doctors, issuing an interim order restraining the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and its members from embarking on any form of industrial action across Nigeria.
The ruling was delivered by Justice Emmanuel Danjuma Subilim following an ex parte application filed by the Federal Government through the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
In the interim injunction, the court barred resident doctors from calling, organising, directing or participating in strikes, work stoppages, go-slows, picketing or any other form of protest capable of disrupting healthcare services nationwide.
Justice Subilim further restrained NARD from taking any steps preparatory to industrial action, with effect from January 12, 2026. The court ruled that the order would remain in force pending the hearing and determination of the substantive motion on notice, which has been fixed for January 21, 2026.
The court intervention comes just days after NARD announced plans to commence a nationwide strike on Monday over unresolved issues relating to welfare, salaries and working conditions of its members.
The association had accused the Bola Tinubu-led administration of failing to honour previously signed agreements, alleging that “agreements have been either totally neglected, altered or half implemented,” while earlier gains had been eroded by what it described as government-induced setbacks.
NARD maintained that it had exhausted all available channels of engagement with the authorities, stating that it had “respectfully engaged, rightly called out the issues as they are, took advice, showed responsible maturity and even lobbied and appealed for solutions,” but lamented that all efforts appeared to have yielded no results.
Defending its members against what it described as persistent misrepresentation, the association stressed that being a medical doctor or a member of NARD was not a crime, insisting that resident doctors remain the backbone of healthcare service delivery in Nigeria.
The group also rejected claims portraying resident doctors as unpatriotic agitators, questioning why they were often seen as “inexperienced, troublesome militants who lack the wisdom and patriotism to understand with government.”
In a strongly worded statement, NARD declared that its members were “experienced enough to understand that merit does not fetch much in Nigeria,” and “bold enough to state that Nigeria often gives you what you demand, not what you deserve.” The association added that resident doctors were “militant enough to agitate for their legitimate rights, including memoranda of understanding duly signed and agreed upon.”
With the court order now in place, attention shifts to the January 21 hearing, which is expected to determine the next phase of the dispute between the federal government and resident doctors.
— SUNTV Global Channel
