The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Abuja, on Friday restrained the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and its members from embarking on their planned strike scheduled to commence on Jan. 12.
The order was made by Justice Emmanuel Subilim following an ex parte application filed by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
Listed as defendants in the suit marked NICN/ABJ/06/2026 are NARD, its National President, Dr Mohammad Usman Suleman, and the association’s Secretary-General, Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim.
Justice Subilim ruled that the interim restraining order would remain in force pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit, which has been adjourned to Jan. 21 for hearing.
The court directed the Federal Government to serve the order on the defendants, adding that they would be at liberty to apply to discharge or vary the order within seven days of being served.
In granting the application, the court said it considered the submissions of the Federal Government’s legal team, led by the Director of Civil Litigation at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs Maimuna Lami Shiru, as well as the affidavit of urgency, the affidavit in support and the annexures attached to the motion.
Specifically, Justice Subilim held:
“An interim order of injunction is hereby granted restraining the defendants/respondents, their members, servants, agents, privies and any other person acting on their behalf or at their directives from calling, directing, organising, participating in or embarking upon any form of industrial action, including but not limited to strikes, work stoppages, go-slows, picketing or any other form of industrial protest or disruption, as well as taking steps preparatory to or in furtherance of any industrial action, from Jan. 12, 2026, until the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”
The court added that it was satisfied that the matter was a proper case for the grant of an interim injunction.
NAN recalls that NARD had earlier announced plans to embark on an indefinite strike over the Federal Government’s alleged failure to implement agreed welfare demands.
The association said the decision followed an Extraordinary National Executive Council meeting held on Jan. 2.