BIG STORY
Resident Doctors Suspend Planned Nationwide Strike
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Patients and medical staff across Nigeria heaved a sigh of relief on Tuesday following the suspension of a planned nationwide strike by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors.
At Jos University Teaching Hospital and Plateau State Specialist Hospital, patients and staff expressed relief at the reprieve.
Even before the suspension of the short-lived strike, services at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital were largely uninterrupted.
At the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, medical activities continued even as the strike loomed, although outpatient services were briefly affected.
The NARD was set to begin an indefinite industrial action on Tuesday over delayed salaries, unpaid allowances, and other welfare concerns affecting its members.
However, following high-level government interventions, including engagements by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammad Dingyadi, NARD, on Tuesday morning, announced it was suspending the strike, giving the Federal Government a two-week ultimatum to resolve outstanding issues.
In a joint statement signed by NARD President, Dr Muhammed Suleiman, Secretary-General, Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim, and Publicity Secretary, Dr Abdulmajid Ibrahim, the association said the decision followed extensive deliberations by its National Executive Council.
The statement expressed “cautious optimism,” noting that the government’s engagement signalled a renewed commitment to addressing resident doctors’ welfare concerns.
The statement read, “The NEC, in recognition of the ongoing high-level interventions and as a demonstration of goodwill, hereby suspends the previously declared total, indefinite, and comprehensive strike action.”
However, NARD warned that unresolved issues, including delayed promotion and salary arrears, non-disbursement of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund, backlog of 19 months’ unpaid professional allowances, and the halted implementation of the revised Professional Allowance Table, must be addressed within the two-week ultimatum.
NARD also reiterated its demand for the immediate reversal of the Federal Government’s decision to halt the implementation of the reviewed Professional Allowance Table, which has been a major source of contention.
The association stressed that the Federal Government must take “concrete, measurable, and verifiable steps” within the two-week ultimatum to address all outstanding demands.
It warned that failure to meet these conditions would lead to the immediate resumption of the suspended strike without further notice.
NARD, however, urged members nationwide to remain calm, united, and resolute while awaiting the Federal Government’s response, emphasising that the patience of its members is limited.
“The NEC shall reconvene immediately upon expiration of the ultimatum to review the level of compliance and determine further appropriate actions in the best interest of its members,” the statement added.
At Jos University Teaching Hospital and Plateau State Specialist Hospital, patients and staff expressed relief at the reprieve.
A consultant at JUTH, who requested anonymity, said, “We are always overwhelmed with work any time the resident doctors are not on duty due to strike.
“They’re the foot soldiers at the hospital, and if they’re not around, our capacity to attend to patients becomes seriously limited, except in emergency cases.”
Mrs Tina Badungs, a patient at JUTH, said, “The last time I was here, we stayed without anyone attending to us. Thank God the strike has been called off. I hope the government meets their demands so they won’t abandon their patients again.”
President of the Association of Resident Doctors at JUTH, Dr Garos Jakhim, confirmed compliance with the national directive. “Yes, it’s true we have called off the strike. My members in Plateau are fully supporting NARD’s efforts and have resumed work. We are happy with the result that the government listened, engaged in dialogue, and brought solutions,” she said.
At the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, medical activities continued, although outpatient services were briefly affected.
The Gusau International Airport (GIA) in Zamfara State has passed the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) quality assurance tests and inspections ahead of the commencement of commercial operations next month.
The development comes as the airport prepares to begin scheduled commercial flights between Gusau and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
According to a statement by the state government on Tuesday, XEJet Limited is expected to operate bi-weekly flights on Mondays and Fridays from the first week of October.
An official of a leading Nigerian aviation agency said the airport’s instrument flight procedures had undergone ICAO’s 17-step quality assurance and approval process, with GIA completing and passing all the stages.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak, said the process was part of Nigeria’s efforts to implement corrective measures recommended by ICAO.
ICAO is a specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for coordinating international air navigation standards and promoting the safe and orderly development of international air transport.
Nigeria’s civil aviation system recorded an effective implementation (EI) score of 75 percent after an ICAO audit in 2023.
The official said ICAO conducted a follow-up inspection, known as the ICAO coordinated validation mission (ICVM), in April 2026, during which Nigeria had a significant safety concern (SSC).
He said the concern was resolved within the prescribed 40-day period, although Nigeria was required to implement associated medium-term corrective action plans.
As part of the corrective measures, the instrument flight procedures at several Nigerian airports were subjected to ICAO’s 17-step quality assurance and approval process.
“Of all the airports assessed, only Gusau International Airport (GIA) completed and passed all the 17 steps,” the senior aviation official said.
“The evidence of GIA’s successful completion of this demanding process formed part of the documentation submitted to ICAO.
“Following the ICVM, Nigeria achieved an impressive EI score of 95.1%.”
On September 21, the Zamfara government signed an air route development partnership agreement with XEJet for scheduled commercial flights between Gusau and Abuja.
The agreement is expected to enhance access to Zamfara and open greater opportunities for investors, businesses, and visitors.
President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Lagos after ending his working vacation in France.
The President arrived at the presidential wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, on Tuesday, where Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other dignitaries were on hand to receive him.
The President’s arrival was confirmed by the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Olusegun Dada, who posted on X, “Landing. Welcome home, Mr President!”
Tinubu had departed Abuja on August 30 for the working vacation, spending one week in London before travelling to Paris.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu departed Paris for Lagos, where he is expected to hold strategic meetings with political leaders and associates.
“While in Lagos, President Tinubu will also hold strategic meetings with political leaders and associates over several days in preparation for the 2027 elections,” the statement read.
The Presidency said Tinubu chose to travel to Lagos first to honour the memory of the late Chief MKO Abiola, winner of the June 1993 presidential election and a prominent figure in Nigeria’s democratic struggle.
On October 1, Independence Day, the President is expected to attend the premiere of a movie honouring Abiola at the Wole Soyinka National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.
Tinubu’s working vacation also included a private dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.
Details later…
The United States has commended Nigeria’s response to recent attacks in the Middle Belt.
The US Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs, in an X post on Tuesday, also urged the federal government to sustain efforts to protect communities in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State.
“The United States commends Nigeria’s strong response to the latest attacks from Fulani militant groups,” the bureau said.
“We will continue to work with the Nigerian government to protect Christians in the Middle Belt.
“We urge Nigeria to continue the momentum and defend the Barkin Ladi communities in particular.”
Nigeria’s Middle Belt, particularly the north-central region comprising Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Plateau, among others, has witnessed varying levels of armed attacks, kidnapping, communal violence and farmer-herder conflicts in recent months.
The US comment comes amid renewed insecurity in parts of the country, particularly among communities in Barkin Ladi, where a series of attacks and reprisals have been reported in recent months.
On September 27, six people were killed and two others injured after gunmen attacked a mining site in Lajam Marit village, Ropp district, Barkin Ladi.
The victims were reportedly shot dead at the site, while the two injured persons were taken to the hospital for treatment.
Five days earlier, the Plateau government imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on Barkin Ladi, Bokkos and Mangu LGAs following a series of attacks, attempted attacks and reprisals. Residents were ordered to remain indoors between 6 pm and 6 am until further notice.
The curfew followed an incident in which a resident, Andy Samuel, a priest, was reportedly shot dead at Marit Junction, while another person sustained injuries.
Troops later came under attack after leaving the hospital, with the assailants suspected of carrying out retaliatory strikes following earlier violence in parts of Barkin Ladi.
On September 20, at least five Fulani men were reportedly killed after suspected Berom militias attacked their vehicle in Barkin Ladi.
The victims were travelling to a market in Jos South when their vehicle came under attack near a security checkpoint. The assailants reportedly opened fire, killing all five occupants.
On September 10, two people were killed after suspected armed militia attacked Fulani herders along the Jong-Nyeriwei road and in Dorowa Babuje community, also in Barkin Ladi.
One of the victims was identified as 19-year-old Ishaku Yakubu, while another man, identified as Andata, was reportedly shot dead around Marit Junction in Dorowa Babuje. Several cattle were also reportedly rustled during the attacks.
The attacks have heightened security concerns in Barkin Ladi and other parts of Plateau, with authorities deploying troops and imposing restrictions in some affected areas to prevent further violence and reprisals.
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