Court Orders NARD To Suspend Strike Planned For January 12 Pending Hearing
The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) in Abuja has prohibited the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and its members from going on strike starting January 12.
The order was issued on Friday by Justice Emmanuel Subilim following an ex parte application filed by the Federal Government and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
The defendants in the suit (NICN/ABJ/06/2026) include NARD, its National President Dr. Mohammad Usman Suleman, and Secretary General Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim. The court said the restraining order will remain in force until the suit is determined and adjourned the matter to January 21 for hearing.
The Federal Government has been directed to serve the order on the defendants, who may apply to vary or discharge it within seven days of receipt.
Justice Subilim said the court took into account the FG’s submissions, led by Mrs. Maimuna Lami Shiru, Director of Civil Litigation at the Federal Ministry of Justice, as well as the supporting affidavits and annexures.
He ruled: “An interim order of injunction is hereby granted restraining the Defendants Respondents, their members, servants, agents, privies, and/or any other person acting on their behalf or at their directives from calling, directing, organizing, participating in or embarking upon any form of industrial action, including but not limited to strikes, work stoppages, go-slows, picketing or any other form of industrial protest or disruption; as well as taking steps preparatory to or in furtherance of any industrial action, from the 12th of January, 2026, until the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.”
The court added that it was satisfied the case warranted an interim injunction.
NARD had announced plans for an indefinite strike, citing the Federal Government’s failure to implement agreed welfare demands. The announcement came after an Extraordinary National Executive Council meeting held on January 2.
The association had earlier suspended a 29-day strike on November 29, 2025, after the FG promised to meet its demands within four weeks—a deadline that passed without visible progress.
