Resident doctors at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, have declared full support for the nationwide, indefinite strike announced by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), scheduled to commence on Monday, January 12, 2026.
The decision followed an Extraordinary National Executive Council (E-NEC) meeting of NARD held virtually on January 2, where members reviewed the status of agreements previously reached with the Federal Government through the Ministries of Health and Labour.
Briefing journalists in Sokoto, the UDUTH chapter said the review revealed “persistent failures” by the government to fulfill critical commitments relating to resident doctors’ welfare, training, and remuneration.
According to the doctors, unresolved issues include the non-reinstatement of five resident doctors disengaged from the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja; unpaid promotion and salary arrears; partial implementation of the Professional Allowance Table; non-payment of Specialist Allowance for eligible doctors; lack of clarity on skipping and entry-level placement; delayed salaries and arrears of House Officers; re-categorisation of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) certificates; and delays in issuing postgraduate training certificates.
The council also expressed concern over deteriorating infrastructure in tertiary hospitals, obsolete medical equipment, a non-functional collective bargaining process, outstanding CONMESS 25 per cent and 35 per cent arrears, and the inactivity of the Special Pension Benefits Committee.
NARD is demanding the immediate reinstatement of the affected Lokoja doctors, full settlement of all outstanding arrears, complete implementation of approved allowances, resolution of training and certification challenges, and urgent intervention to improve facilities in teaching and specialist hospitals across the country.
“With government failing to demonstrate concrete commitment, the Council resolved to commence a total, comprehensive and indefinite withdrawal of services from 12:00 am on Monday, 12 January,” the communiqué stated, directing resident doctors in 91 tertiary institutions nationwide to withdraw their services.
State and national leaders were also mandated to begin coordinated peaceful protests on the same date.
President of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), UDUTH chapter, Dr. Mujitaba Umar, described the decision as “difficult but unavoidable,” warning that continued neglect of agreements was “undermining both doctors’ welfare and public healthcare delivery.”
The chapter’s General Secretary, Dr. Muhammad Abdulrahman Hassan, urged the Federal Government to act swiftly “in the interest of the Nigerian populace and the healthcare system.”
UDUTH resident doctors endorse NARD’s indefinite nationwide strike
