Doctors Begin Indefinite Strike Tuesday Over Unpaid Allowances, Alleged Government Betrayal

ABUJA, Nigeria – The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has declared an indefinite, nationwide strike set to begin at 12:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, over the Federal Government's alleged plan to scrap a previously agreed salary structure and its failure to settle months of outstanding allowances.

The union accused the government of bad faith following delays and a proposed discontinuation of the revised Professional Allowance Table (PAT), a remuneration package agreed upon after a prolonged strike in 2025.

According to NARD, the allowances which include payments for call duty, shift allowances, rural posting incentives, and non-clinical duties—were initially scheduled for implementation in January 2026. The rollout was later pushed to February. The association now alleges that the government plans to halt the entire process starting this month.

"The government's decision to discontinue the Professional Allowance Table by April undermines trust and violates prior agreements," NARD said in a statement.

The union is demanding:

· An immediate reversal of the government's decision to scrap the PAT,

· Payment of 19 months of outstanding PAT arrears,

· Settlement of promotion and salary arrears for doctors in affected centers, and

· The prompt release of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF).

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has backed the doctors, describing the government's failure to honor the agreement as a "betrayal."

"I stand with NARD. Pay what you owe," Atiku said in a statement.

Health analysts warn that the strike will cripple services in public tertiary hospitals, where resident doctors form the backbone of patient care. An indefinite action is expected to shut down outpatient departments, postpone surgeries, and disrupt critical emergency services.

The Federal Government has yet to issue an official response as of press time.

The strike is set to proceed Tuesday unless the government moves to address the union's demands.