Health Crisis Breakthrough: President Tinubu Orders Immediate End to Resident Doctors’ Strike, Approves Major Incentives

Introduction: A Decisive Presidential Directive
In a swift move to restore normalcy to Nigeria’s public health sector, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a direct order for the immediate end to the ongoing nationwide strike by resident doctors. The directive mandates the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to take decisive action to ensure the doctors’ prompt return to their duty posts.

Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako, disclosed the presidential order, noting that it was a response to mounting public concern over the widespread disruption of essential healthcare services. This clear command from the presidency underscores the urgency the administration places on resolving the crisis and establishes the core SEO focus: Tinubu Orders Immediate End Doctors Strike.

The Root of the Conflict: 19 Outstanding Issues
The strike, led by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), stems from 19 outstanding issues concerning welfare, salary disputes, and professional rivalry within the health sector.

A central point of contention was a circular issued by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) that created deep divisions among healthcare professionals. Although the circular was withdrawn, talks were suspended due to persistent disagreements over salary structures and the controversial matter of appointing non-doctor health workers as consultants—a major point of friction with the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).

The government revealed that it had convened 12 meetings with union leaders and has engaged a professor of industrial relations to mediate the disputes, with an interim report already submitted to the government.

Presidential Incentives and Concessions
To facilitate a lasting resolution and encourage the doctors’ immediate return, the Tinubu administration revealed a package of significant concessions and strategic manpower decisions:

Arrears Disbursement: The government has released N21.3 billion to offset outstanding salary and allowance arrears, with 60 percent already paid out.

Retirement Age Review: The President approved an upward review of the retirement age for clinical health workers, extending it to 65 years.

Massive Recruitment Drive: The administration recruited over 14,000 health workers in 2024 and plans to employ an additional 23,000 personnel across 78 federal health institutions this year alone, addressing the critical issue of manpower shortage and the exodus of medical professionals.

Minister Salako appealed directly to the striking doctors to cooperate, emphasizing the collective nature of healthcare: “The health sector operates as a team; no cadre can function effectively in isolation.”

Conclusion: Tinubu Orders Immediate End Doctors Strike
The President’s direct intervention signals a non-negotiable approach to ending the public health crisis. By combining a firm order with significant financial and policy concessions—including the mass recruitment and retirement age review—the administration is attempting to address both the short-term strike and the long-term systemic issues plaguing the sector. The success of this move hinges on the resident doctors’ response and the government’s subsequent execution of the promised reforms, ensuring that the Tinubu Orders Immediate End Doctors Strike results in sustainable peace in Nigerian hospitals.

Do you think these concessions are enough to achieve lasting stability in the health sector? Let us know in the comments.