The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has declared its intention to initiate an indefinite strike at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). This decision stems from the hospital administration’s ongoing failure to provide call meals for resident physicians.
NARD executives, including President Dr. Mohammad Usman Suleiman, Secretary-General Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim, and Publicity Secretary Dr. Abdulmajid Yahya Ibrahim, noted that this dispute has persisted for months. They stated that the hospital management neglected their formal complaints and ignored an ultimatum issued earlier this month.
The association reached out to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare on June 8, 2026, highlighting the lack of meals. This followed their May meeting in Kano, where members demanded the restoration of these services within three weeks. With the deadline now passed, the union characterizes the management’s inaction as an insult to staff dignity and essential workplace standards.
NARD argues that denying nutrition to medical staff working long, taxing shifts harms morale and potentially compromises patient care. The union emphasized that this conflict exacerbates existing challenges within the Nigerian healthcare system, such as heavy workloads and the exodus of medical professionals. During an emergency congress on June 17, the local branch of the association voted to support a full strike if management does not act immediately. The union is now urging the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare to intervene and ensure the Chief Medical Director resolves the issue promptly to prevent the planned shutdown.
