The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced a five-day nationwide warning strike to press for the payment of outstanding salaries and resolution of long-standing welfare concerns.

The industrial action will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, September 12, 2025, and run until Tuesday, September 16, 2025, NARD confirmed in a statement on Thursday.

The decision followed deliberations at NARD’s online National Executive Council (E-NEC) meeting, which convened on Wednesday, September 10, and extended into the early hours of Thursday.

Agbor Affiong, General Secretary of NARD’s Federal Capital Territory chapter, said the NEC members “unanimously resolved to embark on a five-day warning strike” and directed all centres to notify their respective hospital managements.

The planned action coincides with ongoing strikes by resident doctors in Abuja and Oyo State, and comes after NARD issued a 10-day ultimatum to relevant government agencies over unmet demands.

NARD President, Osundara Zenith, had earlier warned that members might shut down public hospitals nationwide due to poor working conditions, power shortages, downgrading of certificates, and inadequate remuneration.

Among the doctors’ demands are immediate payment of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund, settlement of arrears from the 25–35 percent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure review, outstanding 2024 accoutrement allowance, and prompt disbursement of specialist allowances. They are also demanding restoration of recognition for West African postgraduate membership certificates, issuance of membership certificates by the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria to qualified candidates, resolution of welfare issues affecting doctors in Kaduna State, and support for colleagues at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso.

The strike, if carried out, is expected to affect operations in operating theatres, emergency units, intensive care, wards, specialized clinics, diagnostic imaging, and laboratories across teaching, specialist, and district hospitals nationwide.

Medical experts have repeatedly warned that Nigeria’s health sector is under severe strain, citing worsening brain drain, obsolete equipment, and poor welfare as major threats to service delivery.