JOHESU, NARD strikes threaten patients care — FMC boss

The Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abuja, Dr. Saad Ahmed, has warned that ongoing and planned strikes by health unions could seriously disrupt healthcare services across Nigeria.

Speaking on Thursday, Dr. Ahmed urged sustained dialogue between the government and unions to prevent interruptions in essential medical services. His comments came amid the indefinite industrial action by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and the planned resumption of strike action by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) from January 12.

Dr. Ahmed stressed that healthcare delivery, particularly in tertiary hospitals, relies on teamwork, noting that every category of health worker plays a critical role in patient care.

“This strike has lingered, and as we all know, hospital work is a team effort. Everybody is important,” he said.

Acknowledging that JOHESU’s demands were legitimate, he said the federal government was already engaging with the union and called for a temporary suspension of the strike while negotiations continue. He also urged NARD to continue dialogue, pointing out that several of its concerns had already been addressed.

“Negotiations involve compromise. If significant progress has been made, there should be room to suspend action and resolve remaining issues through dialogue,” Dr. Ahmed added.

He warned that simultaneous strikes by JOHESU and NARD would place enormous strain on healthcare facilities nationwide, although hospitals would work to maintain emergency services. Dr. Ahmed appealed to both unions to prioritize Nigerians’ access to quality healthcare and suspend industrial action while talks continue.

JOHESU began its indefinite strike on November 15, 2025, while NARD had previously suspended its nationwide strike in November 2025 but plans to resume over unresolved welfare and work-condition issues.

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