The Association of Resident Doctors of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, on Friday declared full support for the nationwide indefinite strike announced by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, scheduled to begin on Monday, January 12, 2026.

The strike action follows what NARD described as the Federal Government’s failure to honour critical welfare and training agreements reached with resident doctors.

The decision was taken after an Extraordinary National Executive Council meeting of NARD held virtually on January 2, during which members reviewed the implementation status of the Memorandum of Understanding previously signed with the Federal Government through the Ministries of Health and Labour.

Briefing journalists in Sokoto on Friday, the Association of Resident Doctors, UDUTH, said the review revealed “persistent failures” by the government to fulfil key commitments contained in the agreement.

Among the issues highlighted were the non-reinstatement of five disengaged resident doctors of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, non-payment of accumulated promotion and salary arrears, and the partial implementation of the Professional Allowance Table.

Other unresolved matters identified by the Extraordinary National Executive Council include withheld Specialist Allowance payments for eligible doctors, lack of clarity on skipping and entry-level placement, delays in the payment of house officers’ salaries and arrears, re-categorisation of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria certificates, and delays in the issuance of postgraduate training certificates.

The council also expressed concern over deteriorating hospital infrastructure, obsolete medical equipment, a non-functional collective bargaining process, outstanding CONMESS 25 and 35 per cent arrears, and the inactivity of the Special Pension Benefits Committee.

In response to these issues, NARD demanded the immediate reinstatement of the affected Lokoja doctors, payment of all outstanding arrears, full implementation of all allowances, resolution of training certification challenges, and urgent intervention in tertiary health facilities across the country.

“With the government failing to demonstrate concrete commitment, the council resolved to commence a total, comprehensive and indefinite withdrawal of services from 12:00 a.m. on Monday, January 12,” the communiqué stated, directing resident doctors across 91 tertiary institutions to completely withdraw their services.

The Extraordinary National Executive Council also instructed state and national leadership of the association to begin coordinated peaceful protests nationwide on the same date.

The President of ARD, UDUTH, Dr Mujitaba Umar, described the decision as “difficult but unavoidable,” noting that “prolonged neglect of agreements is undermining both doctors’ welfare and public healthcare delivery.”

The General Secretary of the chapter, Dr Muhammad Abdulrahman Hassan, urged the Federal Government to act swiftly “in the interest of the Nigerian populace and the healthcare system.”