The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Abuja, has issued an interim order restraining the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and its members from embarking on any form of strike action beginning January 12, 2026.
The ruling was delivered on Friday by Justice Emmanuel Subilim following an ex parte application filed by the Federal Government through the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
In the suit marked NICN/ABJ/06/2026, NARD, its National President, Dr. Mohammad Usman Suleman, and its Secretary-General, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim, are listed as defendants.
Justice Subilim granted an interim injunction barring the association, its members, agents, and affiliates from calling, organizing, participating in, or taking steps toward any industrial action, including strikes, work stoppages, go-slows, picketing, or other forms of industrial protest.
The court ruled that the restraining order will remain in force pending the hearing and determination of the substantive motion. The matter was adjourned to January 21, 2026, for further proceedings.
The judge directed the Federal Government to serve the court order on the defendants and ruled that the doctors’ association has seven days from the date of service to apply to discharge or vary the order if it so wishes.
In his ruling, Justice Subilim said the court was satisfied that the application met the requirements for the grant of an interim injunction, having considered the affidavit of urgency, the supporting affidavit, annexures attached to the motion, and submissions made by the Federal Government’s legal team led by Mrs. Maimuna Lami Shiru, Director of Civil Litigation at the Federal Ministry of Justice.
The decision comes after NARD announced plans for an indefinite strike following an Extraordinary National Executive Council meeting held on January 2, citing the Federal Government’s failure to implement previously agreed welfare demands.
The association had earlier suspended a 29-day strike on November 29, 2025, after the government committed to meeting its demands within four weeks — a deadline NARD says elapsed without tangible progress.
