Nigeria’s healthcare system has been thrown into fresh uncertainty as the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors commenced a nationwide strike today, April 7, 2026, citing unresolved welfare issues and the Federal Government’s alleged failure to honor previous agreements.
The industrial action is already threatening to disrupt services across federal and state-owned hospitals, with patients facing delays and limited access to care.
Speaking on the development, a senior member of the association said the decision to resume strike action was not taken lightly.
“We have made repeated efforts to engage the government, but the lack of commitment to agreements has left us with no choice. Our members cannot continue to work under these conditions,” the official stated.
Since the administration of Bola Tinubu began in 2023, resident doctors have spent a cumulative 51 days on strike. This includes two major strikes and a warning action between 2023 and 2025, reflecting ongoing tensions in the country’s health sector.
The immediate trigger for the latest strike is the Federal Government’s reported decision to halt the implementation of the revised Professional Allowance Table an agreement reached after the 2025 strike.
A representative of the association expressed frustration over the policy reversal.
“The revised allowance structure was a key part of the agreement that led us to suspend our last strike. Suspending it now is a clear breach of trust,” the representative said.
Health experts warn that the recurring industrial actions could have serious implications for patient care and the stability of the healthcare system.
“Frequent strikes are eroding public confidence in government hospitals. The longer this persists, the more pressure is placed on private facilities, which many Nigerians cannot afford,” A public health analyst noted.
Patients and their families have also voiced concern over the impact of the strike.
“We depend on these hospitals because they are affordable. Now we don’t know where to go,” a patient at a federal medical centre lamented.
As the strike begins, stakeholders are calling for urgent dialogue between the government and doctors to prevent a prolonged shutdown and further deterioration of healthcare services nationwide.