The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced plans to resume its Total Industrial and Clinical Services (TICS) 2.0 nationwide from January 12, 2026, citing the failure of authorities to fully implement agreements on doctors’ welfare and conditions of service.
The decision followed an Emergency National Executive Council (E-NEC) meeting held on January 2, 2026. In an update issued after the meeting, NARD President, Dr Mohammed Suleiman, said the renewed action became necessary due to what the association described as persistent non-compliance with previously reached agreements.
According to the resolution, the resumed industrial action, tagged “No Implementation, No Going Back,” will commence at exactly 12:00 a.m. on Monday, January 12, 2026.
Ahead of the resumption, NARD directed presidents of its 91 centres nationwide to convene congress meetings and address the media. The association plans to hold 91 separate press conferences across the country within seven days to draw public attention to its grievances.
The doctors’ body also announced a schedule of centre-based protests from January 12 to January 16, 2026, which will be followed by regional protests coordinated by caucus leaders. A nationwide protest is also expected to be organised by the NARD National Officers’ Committee (NOC).
NARD stressed that the suspension of TICS 2.0 would only be considered after the full implementation of its minimum demands. These include the reinstatement of five doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH), Lokoja; payment of promotion and salary arrears; full implementation of the professional allowance table with arrears captured in the 2026 budget; and official clarification on skipping and entry-level issues by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
Other demands listed by the association are the re-introduction and implementation of the Specialist Allowance; resolution of house officers’ salary delays and arrears through the issuance of a pay advisory; re-categorisation and issuance of membership certificates after Part I examinations by the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN); commencement of locum and work-hours regulation committees; and the resumption and timely conclusion of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) process.
The association explained that the one-week window before the resumption of the action was deliberately provided to allow for congress meetings, media engagement, and statutory notifications to security agencies, including the Department of State Services, the police, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, as well as hospital managements.
While appreciating the patience and resilience of its members, the NARD National Officers’ Committee reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the resolutions of the NEC and said engagements with relevant stakeholders would be intensified in the coming days. The association urged its members to remain calm, united, and resolute as it presses for the full implementation of its demands.
