Hospitals On Hold: Nigerians Stranded As Resident Doctors’ Strike Deepens Health Crisis

HOSPITALS across Nigeria were thrown into chaos on Friday as resident doctors under the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) embarked on a five-day nationwide warning strike, crippling services and leaving patients in limbo. The strike, which commenced at 8:00 a.m. on 12 September, is scheduled to run until 16 September, following the expiration of a 24-hour ultimatum to the federal government.

Empty wards, stranded patients

At the National Hospital in Abuja, wards and outpatient departments that usually bustle with activity were eerily quiet. Only a handful of patients waited to be seen, many confused and unsure of their next steps. Consultants and nurses tried to fill the gap, but services were skeletal.

Mrs. Baba Hauwa, a patient referred from Garki General Hospital, stood helplessly clutching test results. “I was not aware of the strike. My daughter was supposed to see a doctor before returning to school, but now I don’t know what to do,” she lamented.

For Mr. Moses Adeola, who managed to see a consultant after hours of waiting, the experience was bittersweet. “The doctors are doing a great job. I beg the government to address their concerns. We can’t afford to fly abroad like the politicians,” he said.

Nurses warned that the worst is yet to come. “Today is just the beginning. In the coming days, the situation will get worse if nothing changes,” one nurse said.

Why the doctors are striking

The strike followed an Extraordinary National Executive Council meeting of NARD, where members reviewed the government’s alleged neglect of their demands despite repeated ultimatums. Key issues include:

• Non-payment of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF)

• Outstanding arrears from the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) review

• Unpaid 2024 accoutrement allowance and salary arrears

• Downgrading of membership certificates by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).

NARD President, Dr. Tope Osundara, said the strike was a last resort. “We gave a 24-hour grace period, but the government failed to meet even the minimum demands,” he stated.

The action coincides with a seven-day strike by the FCT chapter of the association, worsening disruptions across federal hospitals.

Fallout across the states

In Benue State, the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Makurdi directed resident doctors to hand over patients to consultants before leaving. ARD president Dr. Emmanuel Tormusa defended the action: “An injury to one is an injury to all. We stand together with our colleagues nationwide.” Relatives of patients, however, were seen packing belongings to leave the hospital, frustrated at the lack of attention.

In Taraba State, FMC Jalingo witnessed a sharp drop in patient numbers as new admissions were refused. Patients in critical condition were attended to by overwhelmed consultants. “With limited staff, consultants can only do so much,” explained ARD chairman Dr. Danjuma Chomo. Families, such as that of Barniki Tsokwa, considered moving relatives to private hospitals if services did not improve.

In Enugu, compliance was total in federal hospitals, forcing patients to depend solely on nurses. State-owned facilities, however, recorded partial compliance.

In Jos, Plateau State Specialist Hospital saw patients turned away or forced to wait indefinitely. “I came with my X-ray, but no doctor was around to check it,” lamented Sarah Johnson.

In Niger State, consultants tried to manage the surge at FMC Bida but services slowed considerably. “Consultants only come on special days, so the waiting time is unbearable,” patient Aliyu Usman said.

In Owerri, the Federal University Teaching Hospital ground to a halt. Patients like Uche Ibezim expressed despair: “The less privileged cannot afford private hospitals. The poor are really suffering in this country.”

Human toll of the crisis

The strike has highlighted deep cracks in Nigeria’s healthcare system. At FMC Umuahia, relatives worried about moving critically ill patients to private hospitals they could not afford. A petty trader, Nkechi Ikwuakolam, said: “I can’t go anywhere else. I don’t have the money.”

At the core of the crisis is a recurring cycle of strikes that Nigerians have grown weary of. “Every year, it’s the same story. The government signs agreements and fails to implement them. Meanwhile, the poor suffer,” said Urenna Amadi, a civil servant.

Calls for urgent intervention

Across the country, patients and relatives voiced one consistent plea: government intervention. “This is not just about doctors’ salaries, it’s about saving lives. People are dying silently because of these strikes,” said a patient’s relative in Abuja.

While consultants and nurses are doing their best to cushion the impact, they remain overstretched. If the federal government fails to act quickly, the warning strike may escalate into a full-blown industrial action — deepening the suffering of millions who depend on public healthcare.

The message from patients is clear: Nigeria cannot afford another cycle of neglect. “We don’t need promises, we need solutions,” said Adeola in Abuja. “Lives are at stake.”