The Socialist Labour group has publicly supported the ongoing strike by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), calling on the Tinubu-led Nigerian government to promptly clear the resident doctors’ unpaid salaries and improve their working conditions.
In a statement issued on November 12th, 2025, and signed by Drs. James Uanhoro and Izielen Agbon, the group emphasized the urgent need for the government to address these financial and systemic failures in Nigeria’s public health sector.
The statement highlighted the grave consequences of the government’s chronic underfunding of public health, pointing out that in 2021 alone, at least 750,000 Nigerians died from preventable diseases such as respiratory infections, malaria, and diarrhoea. “If these Nigerians lived in countries that funded public health, there was a high chance they would still be alive today. Their blood is on the hands of the ruling class, who continue to show their inability to meet the dreams and hopes of all of us,” it said.
Resident doctors, defined in the statement as those who have completed their final university exams and are gaining on-the-job experience, make up about 40% of Nigerian doctors and 90% of doctors in teaching hospitals. The statement drew attention to the critical role these doctors play, noting that many Nigerians treated recently by doctors were likely treated by residents. Despite their vital role, the government has failed to pay their salaries adequately, leading to an exodus of medical professionals from Nigeria.
The statement revealed the harsh realities faced by residents: “Resident doctors often work over 100 hours a week. On weekends, some work 24 to 48 hours straight with very little sleep in between. And the situation is getting worse.”
Further, the statement pointed out the extreme psychological toll, noting that about one in ten resident doctors have admitted to suicide attempts, with many more likely suffering in silence due to stigma. The Socialist Labour group stressed that the deteriorating conditions cannot continue and urged the government to fund medical education better to produce more doctors, citing Cuba as an example of a well-functioning healthcare system despite limited resources.
“The question is not financial; it is one of misplaced priorities,” the statement concluded.
It called for urgent national funding for public health to enable free treatment for all Nigerians and reduce preventable deaths. The group also appealed to the broader labour movement to stand in solidarity with the striking doctors and health workers, asserting that their victory would be a victory for all Nigerians and a critical step toward addressing the country’s massive health crises.
This detailed statement by Socialist Labour adds to the mounting pressure on the Nigerian government to resolve the impasse with striking resident doctors and overhaul the public health system to meet the needs of its population.
