The Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has reaffirmed plans to commence a nationwide strike on January 12, 2026, despite a court order restraining the action, saying only its National Executive Council (NEC) can reverse the decision.
NARD President, Dr Mohammad Suleiman, made this known on Friday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, hours after the National Industrial Court in Abuja issued an interim injunction barring the association from embarking on any industrial action.
The court order, granted by Justice E. D. Subilim in suit number NICN/ABJ/06/2026, followed a case filed by the Federal Government and the Attorney-General of the Federation against NARD and two of its officials, Dr Suleiman and Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim.
Speaking via telephone during the programme, Suleiman said the association was undeterred by the injunction, accusing the Federal Government of acting in bad faith after NARD previously suspended its strike in November 2025 to allow negotiations.
“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, 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.”
When asked whether the doctors would still down tools in defiance of the court order, Suleiman maintained that the strike would proceed unless the NEC intervenes.
“We will proceed unless the National Executive Council of the Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors says otherwise,” he said.
Despite the hard stance, the NARD president said talks with the Federal Government were ongoing and expressed hope that the dispute could be resolved before the planned strike date.
“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 added.
