The National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Abuja has barred the National Association of Resident Doctors and its members from proceeding with the strike they planned to begin on January 12, 2026. The order was issued on Friday by Justice Emmanuel Subilim following a request brought before the court by the Federal Government and the Attorney General of the Federation.
The application was moved by the Director of Civil Litigation at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Maimuna Lami Shiru, who appeared with a team of government lawyers. The court granted the request and restrained the association and its leadership from embarking on the proposed industrial action until the matter is determined.
Those named in the suit include the National Association of Resident Doctors, its National President, Dr. Mohammad Suleman, and the Secretary-General, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim. The court action followed the association’s earlier announcement that it would resume a total and indefinite strike over unresolved issues with the Federal Government.
Resident doctors had earlier stated that the decision to strike was taken after an emergency meeting of their national executive council. They cited the failure of the Federal Ministry of Health and other government agencies to meet agreed deadlines for implementing parts of a memorandum of understanding reached with the association.
The association had maintained that repeated delays left it with no option but to resume industrial action and had directed its chapters across the country to prepare for the strike and address the public. With the court’s order now in place, the planned action has been put on hold pending further legal proceedings.