Nigerian Doctors Stand Strong: Strike Continues Against Broken Promises
As Nigerian resident doctors enter their tenth day of strike action, their message to the federal government is crystal clear: talk is cheap, action is what counts. The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) is showing the world what true African resilience looks like.
NARD President Muhammad Suleiman delivered a powerful message that resonates across our continent: "Our struggle transcends money. It is about dignity, safety, and survival." This is not just about healthcare workers, this is about every Nigerian demanding respect for agreements and promises made.
Government's Empty Promises Exposed
The federal government claims to have released billions in payments, but our doctors are calling out these hollow announcements. Suleiman revealed that despite government claims of releasing N41.3 billion, less than 60 percent of doctors have received any payment. Even more telling, the promised N2.9 billion that was supposed to be released last Monday? Still missing in action.
"I don't know, is it another 'audio alert'?" Suleiman asked, perfectly capturing the frustration of healthcare workers tired of government propaganda that doesn't match reality.
African Healthcare Heroes Standing United
This strike represents something bigger than salary disputes. Our doctors are fighting against years of neglect, broken promises, and disrespect. They're demanding dignity in a profession that literally saves lives every day. The government has been promising solutions for two, three, even five years without delivering.
Visits to major hospitals across Lagos, Abuja, and Kaduna show the real impact. Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Federal Medical Centre Jabi, and Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital are all running on skeleton crews. Only emergency services remain operational, proving just how essential our resident doctors are.
The Real Issues Behind the Strike
This industrial action stems from fundamental problems that successive governments have ignored:
- Unpaid salary arrears from adjustments
- Missing hazard allowances for frontline workers
- Delayed promotions keeping talented doctors stuck
- Poor working conditions that drive brain drain
The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare announced special waivers for "massive recruitment" to address staff shortages caused by brain drain. But here's the reality check: you can't recruit your way out of problems created by not respecting the professionals you already have.
Standing Firm Until Real Change Comes
Suleiman made it clear that discussions without signed agreements mean nothing. "You can only resolve things after you have agreed and after you have put it on paper or put it into action," he stated. This is leadership that refuses to be fooled by empty government rhetoric.
The strike remains indefinite, and rightfully so. Our healthcare heroes deserve better than promises that evaporate faster than morning dew. They're fighting for every Nigerian who believes that agreements should be honored and workers should be respected.
This is what true African leadership looks like: standing firm against systems that take our people for granted, demanding accountability from those in power, and refusing to accept the status quo when it fails our communities.