Breaking: Industrial court stops resident doctors from embarking on strike
The National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja on Friday, restrained the Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors and two of its officials from embarking on any form of industrial action from January 12, 2026.
Justice E. D. Subilim granted the interim injunction in a suit marked NICN/ABJ/06/2026, filed by the Federal Government and the Attorney General of the Federation against NARD, Dr Mohammad Suleman, and Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim.
Recall that the Association of Resident Doctors of the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, on Thursday threw its weight behind the total and indefinite strike declared by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, scheduled to begin at 12 a.m. on Monday, January 12, 2026.
The resident doctors decried what they described as the insincerity and insensitivity of the Federal Government in implementing the Memorandum of Understanding it signed with NARD, following the suspension of the association’s 29-day industrial action in November 2025.
The court order, granted on Friday, January 9, 2025, followed an ex parte application by the FG, which urged the court to stop the doctors from calling or organising any strike, work stoppage, picketing, go-slow or any other industrial protest pending the hearing of a substantive motion.
In the ruling, the judge barred the association, its officers, members, agents or anyone acting on their behalf from “calling, directing, organising, participating in or embarking upon any form of industrial action” and from taking any steps in preparation for such action.
The injunction will remain in force until January 21, 2026, when the court is expected to hear the motion on notice.
“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, organising, 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;
“Taking steps preparatory to or in furtherance of any industrial action, from the 12th January, 2026, until the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice,” the court ruled.
The Federal Government was ordered to serve the defendants with the court processes within seven days, while the resident doctors were given the liberty to apply for discharge or vary the order within seven days of service.
“The claimants/applicants shall serve the defendants with this order within seven (7) days of the date hereof.
“The defendants/respondents shall be at liberty to apply to discharge or vary this order within seven days after services of this order,” the Judge ruled.
