‘No going back’ – Resident doctors insist on strike despite court order

The Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors has reaffirmed its determination to proceed with its planned nationwide strike on January 12, in defiance of a national industrial court injunction halting the action.

NARD President, Dr. Mohammad Suleiman, stressed that the only body capable of suspending the planned walkout is the union’s National Executive Council.

Earlier on Friday, the National Industrial Court in Abuja issued a restraining order preventing the association and two of its officials from carrying out any industrial action beginning January 12, 2026.

Justice E. D. Subilim handed down the interim injunction while ruling on a case marked NICN/ABJ/06/2026, filed by the Federal Government and the Attorney-General of the Federation against NARD, Dr. Suleiman, and Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim.

Speaking later during a Channels Television programme, Suleiman said the court decision had not shaken members’ resolve, alleging that the government had failed to honour commitments made when NARD suspended its earlier strike in November 2025.

“We signed the MoU on the 27th of November. The strike was supposed to start on the 27th of December. NEC carried it over, and at the beginning of this year, we met again and gave more days.

“Then, at the close of work today (Friday), I started hearing from social media that a court injunction has been served. I’m even hearing that ‘no work, no pay’ documents have been released.

“When we are discussing and negotiating, it should be done in good faith. Once you start bringing out armouries and arms like this, it means you don’t want to negotiate in good faith,” he said.

When asked whether the union would still commence the strike despite the injunction, Suleiman confirmed that the action would go ahead “unless the National Executive Council of the Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors says otherwise.”

He added that discussions with the Federal Government were still ongoing and expressed hope that the deadlock could be resolved before the planned resumption of the strike.

“We are in conversations. We are in discussions with the Federal Government’s team. I hope that between tonight and Sunday, a lot of things will be done properly,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital chapter of NARD has thrown its full support behind the national directive.

In a statement released on Friday, LASUTH-ARD President, Dr. Akerele Alaba, confirmed that resident doctors at the facility would participate in the Total Indefinite and Comprehensive Strike 2.0, themed ‘No Implementation, No Going Back’.

“The Federal Government has failed to fulfill its part of the agreement. Many of the items have been completely neglected, altered, or only partially implemented,” he said.

He noted that the decision followed resolutions passed at the union’s Extraordinary National Executive Council meeting held virtually on January 2, 2026.