The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued a passionate appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, calling for urgent intervention to prevent the collapse of the country’s health sector. In a letter titled “A Passionate Appeal to the Commander-in-Chief of the Federation,” the association outlined 19 critical demands and warned of an indefinite nationwide strike set to begin on October 31, 2025, if their concerns remain unaddressed.
Signed by NARD President Dr. Mohammad Suleiman, the letter describes the current state of healthcare delivery in Nigeria as a “national emergency and a matter of national security.” The doctors cited years of government inaction, poor remuneration, and deteriorating working conditions as key factors driving the crisis.
“We are not politicians. We are doctors — men and women devoted to saving lives, working long hours in often harsh and under-resourced conditions,” the letter reads.
Dr. Suleiman emphasized that the association’s decision to reach out directly to the President stems from a “profound sense of duty” and a desire to avert a total shutdown of healthcare services across the country.
The looming strike threatens to paralyze medical services in federal and state hospitals, leaving millions of Nigerians without access to critical care. NARD has urged the government to treat the situation with the urgency it deserves, warning that continued neglect could lead to irreversible damage to the nation’s healthcare system.