by George Ozalla
Resident doctors at the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Azare (FUHSTHA), say the silence from authorities has become louder than any promise ever made, and they are no longer willing to wait.
After weeks of growing frustration and quiet consultations, the Association of Resident Doctors at the teaching hospital has announced its decision to down tools, aligning fully with the nationwide strike declared by the National Association of Resident Doctors. The industrial action is scheduled to commence on Monday, January 12, 2026, and is expected to ground medical services provided by resident doctors at the Azare-based institution.
The decision was reached during an emergency general meeting of the association held in Azare, Bauchi State, where members reviewed the state of negotiations with the Federal Government and assessed what they described as persistent neglect of agreements already reached. According to a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the association resolved to participate in the Total, Indefinite and Comprehensive Strike, known as TICS 2.0, in strict compliance with the directive of the national body.
The communiqué, signed by the President of the association, Dr. Faruq Umar Faruq, and the General Secretary, Dr. Ahmad Shamimuddeen, made it clear that resident doctors in the hospital would not only withdraw their services but would also stage a peaceful protest within the premises of the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Azare. The protest, according to the statement, is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on Monday, the same day the strike begins.
Explaining the decision, Dr. Faruq said the action was driven by the Federal Government’s failure to fully implement the Memorandum of Understanding reached with resident doctors in November 2025, an agreement he noted was entered into after extensive negotiations and assurances. He said the continued delay and selective implementation of the terms of the MoU had left resident doctors with no choice but to resort to industrial action.
According to him, the strike is being carried out under the slogan No Implementation, No Going Back, a message he said reflects the depth of anger and exhaustion among doctors who feel repeatedly shortchanged. He stressed that the action would remain in force until the Federal Government meets the demands of resident doctors in full.
The statement further outlined a list of unresolved issues that have continued to fuel discontent within the medical workforce. These include the reinstatement of the FTH Lokoja Five, payment of outstanding promotion arrears and accumulated salary shortfalls, as well as the full implementation of the professional allowance table with all arrears adequately captured in the 2026 budget. The doctors are also demanding official clarification from the Federal Ministry of Health on skipping and entry-level placement, which they say has created confusion and disparities in remuneration.
Other demands highlighted in the communiqué include the reintroduction of the Specialist Allowance, settlement of house officers’ salary arrears, and the issuance of outstanding pay advisories. The association also called for the recategorisation and issuance of membership certificates by the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN) and West African College of Physicians (WACP), alongside the immediate commencement of locum and work-hours regulation committees to address workload and burnout.
In addition, the resident doctors are demanding the resumption and timely conclusion of the long-delayed Collective Bargaining Agreement process, which they argue is critical to restoring trust between healthcare workers and the government.
As the countdown to Monday begins, the announcement adds to mounting concerns about access to healthcare services across the country, particularly in teaching hospitals where resident doctors form the backbone of clinical care. For the doctors in Azare, the strike is being framed not as a choice, but as a last stand after months of waiting for commitments to be honoured according to the directives by NARD.
