The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) in Abuja has barred the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and its members from embarking on a strike scheduled to begin January 12.
The order was issued on Friday by Justice Emmanuel Subilim following an ex parte application by the Federal Government and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
Named in the suit (NICN/ABJ/06/2026) are NARD, its National President Dr. Mohammad Usman Suleman, and Secretary General Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim. The court said the restraining order will remain in effect until the case is determined and adjourned the hearing to January 21.
The Federal Government has been directed to serve the order on the defendants, who may apply to discharge or modify it within seven days of being served.
Justice Subilim noted that the court considered submissions from the FG’s legal team, led by Mrs. Maimuna Lami Shiru, Director of Civil Litigation at the Federal Ministry of Justice, as well as supporting affidavits and annexures.
He ruled: “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, organizing, 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; as well as taking steps preparatory to or in furtherance of any industrial action, from the 12th of January, 2026, until the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.”
The court added that it was satisfied the case warranted an interim injunction.
NARD had announced plans for an indefinite strike, citing the Federal Government’s failure to implement agreed welfare demands. The announcement followed an Extraordinary National Executive Council meeting on January 2.
The doctors’ association had earlier suspended a 29-day strike on November 29, 2025, after the FG promised to meet its demands within four weeks—a deadline that passed without visible progress.
