NIGERIAN RESIDENT DOCTORS AND JOHESU COMMENCE NATIONWIDE INDEFINITE STRIKE OVER UNPAID SALARIES AND ALLOWANCES

Hospitals Paralyzed as NARD and JOHESU

Demand Immediate Payment of Accrued Wages, New Hazard Allowance, and Implementation of CONMESS/CONHESS Reviews

ABUJA – Nigeria’s public health sector has been plunged into total paralysis as the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) simultaneously commenced an indefinite nationwide strike from the early hours of Thursday, November 20, 2025, over months of unpaid salaries, skipping, and non-implementation of reviewed allowances.
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), representing over 14,000 doctors in training across federal and state tertiary hospitals, declared the strike at the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued on November 5, 2025. In a communiqué issued after its emergency National Executive Council meeting held virtually on November 19, NARD accused the Federal Government of failing to honour agreements reached in 2023 and 2024, including:
Full payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF)
Immediate implementation of the upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS)
Payment of all accrued salary arrears, including skipping arrears for 2014–2016
Payment of outstanding COVID-19 hazard/inducement allowance owed since 2020–2021
Release and implementation of the new hazard allowance circular agreed upon in 2021
Domestication and payment of the new hazard allowance and accrued arrears in all state tertiary institutions
NARD President, Dr. Tope Osundara, stated that the union had no choice but to withdraw services nationwide after exhausting all avenues of dialogue. “Our members have been working under unbearable conditions while the government continues to treat our welfare with levity. We are owed several months of salaries and allowances. This strike is total and indefinite until our demands are fully met,” he declared.
In a parallel action, the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), the umbrella body for non-physician health workers including nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, physiotherapists, radiographers, and others, also directed all its affiliates to commence an indefinite strike on the same November 20 date. JOHESU National Chairman, Comrade Joy Bio Josiah, listed identical grievances:
Non-payment of withheld salaries of members from the 2022 JOHESU strike
Non-implementation of the reviewed Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) as adjusted in 2023
Outstanding COVID-19 hazard allowance for 2020–2022
Non-payment of skipping arrears
Failure to release the new hazard allowance circular and commence payment
JOHESU further demanded the immediate reconstitution of the boards of federal tertiary health institutions and the withdrawal of a controversial circular issued by the Head of Service that allegedly undermines the powers of hospital Chief Medical Directors.
As of Thursday morning, November 20, 2025, emergency services, outpatient clinics, and elective surgeries have been suspended in virtually all federal teaching hospitals, federal medical centres, and most state-owned tertiary institutions. Only critical life-saving interventions are being handled on a very limited basis by consultants and honorary staff not affected by the strike.
The Federal Ministry of Health has appealed for calm and promised to engage both unions urgently, but no concrete meeting date has been announced. The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, acknowledged the legitimacy of some of the grievances but pleaded for patience, citing ongoing reconciliation of payroll data and limited fiscal space.
This is the second time in 2025 that resident doctors have embarked on strike action, following a three-day warning strike in July. The simultaneous action by NARD and JOHESU is the first joint industrial action by the two major health worker blocs since 2022, effectively grounding healthcare delivery in public hospitals across the country.
Patients are already being turned away or discharged, while those on admission are being managed with skeletal services. Private hospitals are reporting unprecedented patient influx and bed shortages.
Clarion Newschannel is monitoring the situation and will provide updates as negotiations progress or further directives are issued by the striking unions.