Hospitals in Crisis as Tinubu Orders Immediate End to Resident Doctors’ Strike
Mirian Gom 
ABUJA, Nigeria – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to take all lawful and urgent steps to ensure striking resident doctors return to work immediately, as the indefinite industrial action enters its third day and cripples’ services in teaching hospitals nationwide.
The directive was disclosed on Monday by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, during a briefing in Abuja.
Consultants and nurses have reportedly been overstretched in emergency wards, while elective surgeries and specialist clinics remain suspended.
“Mr. President has expressly directed that we do everything possible and legitimate to ensure the resident doctors are brought back to their duty posts as soon as possible,” Salako said, apologising to patients caught in the nationwide disruption.
The minister said the government had been engaging the leadership of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on its 19-point demand, which includes unpaid arrears, allowance delays, irregular promotions, and welfare concerns driving mass doctor migration.
According to Salako, the Federal Government has already released N21.3 billion to settle outstanding payments, with another N11.9 billion being processed. He also said 14,444 health workers were recruited in 2024, including 3,064 resident doctors, and 23,059 more are being engaged in 2025, alongside an increase in retirement age to 65 for clinical personnel.
However, NARD insists the strike will continue until “verifiable implementation” is seen.
“Our demands are the minimum requirements for a functional healthcare system,” NARD President Dr. Muhammad Suleiman said.
In Abuja, the FCT Resident Doctors’ Association vowed to continue a separate strike, claiming many doctors employed since 2023 remain unpaid.
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Korede Abdullah