The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has suspended its planned resumption of the ‘Total, Indefinite and Complete Strike’ popularly referred to as TICS 2.0, which was earlier scheduled to commence on Monday, January 12.

The suspension was confirmed on Sunday through a statement issued by the Secretary-General of the association, Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim, following a virtual meeting of the National Executive Council of NARD.

According to Ibrahim, the emergency NEC meeting was convened to assess the status of the association’s demands and to review the level of progress achieved through sustained engagements with critical government stakeholders.

“The suspension is strategic and conditional, allowing room to objectively review tangible progress at the January NEC meeting beginning Jan. 25,” he said.

He explained that the National Executive Council unanimously resolved to suspend the strike after receiving firm commitments from the Federal Ministries of Health and Social Welfare, Labour, and Finance.

Ibrahim disclosed that other stakeholders involved in the engagements included the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Office of the Accountant-General, the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, the Budget Office, Committees of Chief Medical Directors, the Department of State Services, the National Assembly, and the Vice President.

He added that the commitments were secured following the direct intervention of Vice President Kashim Shettima, who acted on behalf of President Bola Tinubu.

On the association’s demands, Ibrahim stated that the committee set up to address the crisis at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, had fully implemented its recommendations, while a reconciliation committee had been inaugurated to promote workplace harmony within the institution.

He noted that verified lists for the outstanding 25 and 35 per cent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure arrears had been forwarded to IPPIS, with the Ministry of Labour engaging the Ministry of Finance to ensure prompt payment.

Ibrahim said progress recorded on accoutrement allowance followed a similar process, while lists detailing promotion and salary arrears had been transmitted to the Ministry of Finance and the Budget Office for immediate action.

He further disclosed that the Minister of State for Finance had acknowledged receipt of the submitted lists, adding that engagements were ongoing to guarantee the speedy implementation of an effective payment plan.

Clarification on skipping and entry-level placement, recognising CONMESS Three as the entry point, he said, would be communicated to all hospital chief executives to ensure uniform interpretation and application across health institutions.

He revealed that a multi-stakeholder committee had been constituted to address issues relating to locum practice and work-hour regulations, with preliminary meetings already underway to ensure compliance with existing national guidelines.

Ibrahim stated that concrete steps had been taken towards the full implementation of the specialist allowance, while interventions were ongoing to resolve salary delays and arrears affecting house officers through regulatory engagement.

He also disclosed that a separate committee had been established to handle membership re-categorisation in collaboration with relevant regulatory bodies and training institutions to ensure strict adherence to professional standards.

According to him, NARD would continue to work with state governments and private medical centres to ensure that salary and allowance arrears owed resident doctors were cleared in line with gains secured at the federal level.

On professional allowances, Ibrahim said the relevant circular had already been released, with full implementation expected to commence from January salaries, while 18 months’ arrears had been captured in the 2026 budget.

He affirmed that the association would persist in pushing for the immediate resumption and timely conclusion of negotiations on the Collective Bargaining Agreement for all categories of doctors.

Earlier, NARD had announced plans to resume strike action from January 12 over unresolved issues bordering on welfare, promotions, allowances and poor working conditions, after suspending a nationwide strike in November 2025.

Meanwhile, the National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja had, on Friday, issued an interim order restraining NARD, its members and agents from embarking on any industrial action from January 12, pending the hearing of the matter fixed for January 21.

The suit was instituted by the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Federal Government against NARD and its leadership, seeking to compel compliance with extant labour laws.