Nigeria's resident doctors suspended their planned nationwide strike Monday following fresh federal pledges led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, opting for a strategic two-week pause until January 25 to gauge real progress on welfare demands like salary arrears, specialist allowances, and house officer protections. The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) hailed commitments from Health, Labour, and Finance Ministries plus National Assembly intervention after a virtual emergency NEC meeting, dodging a court order that could've locked them out amid public fury over hospital shutdowns. Sec-Gen Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim stressed the hold-off stays conditional – no action if circulars flop or CBA talks stall, echoing November's MOU headaches where deadlines burned without pay.
Key wins include CONMESS 3 entry-level clarity, locum committees kicking off, and pro-rated allowances hitting January salaries with 18-month backlogs budgeted for 2026 – but NARD eyes 3,000 unpaid souls from prior 25-35% hikes. The docs bowed to presidential muscle after courts slammed interim brakes Friday, balancing patient pleas against IPPIS glitches and work-hour hell grinding medics raw. Health Minister's hospital service director preps advisories, MDCN tackles pay delays, but doctors warn TICS 2.0 snaps back if vows vaporize like last round's ghost payments.
Hospitals exhale as wards hum sans walkouts, but streets split – patients cheer breather amid malaria peaks, colleagues roast sellouts fearing endless extensions. Tinubu's team touts diplomacy dodging sector collapse post-Abu Dhabi jet, Obi camp silent after "Where's President?" heat. NARD bets Shettima seals deals where others flopped, NEC polls fate January 25. Medics watch wallets, Nigeria watches wards – truce holds or theatres go dark again?