By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
The National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja has restrained the Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and two of its officials from embarking on any form of industrial action from January 12, 2026.
The court order was given in a ruling delivered by Justice E.D. Subilim on Friday, January 9, which granted the interim injunction in a suit filed by the Federal Government and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) against NARD, Dr Mohammad Suleman, and Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim.
The order followed an ex parte application by the Federal Government, which urged the court to stop the doctors from calling or organising any strike, work stoppage, picketing, go-slow or any other industrial protest pending the hearing of a substantive motion.
In the ruling, the judge barred the association, its officers, members, agents or anyone acting on their behalf from “calling, directing, organising, participating in or embarking upon any form of industrial action” and from taking any steps in preparation for such action.
The injunction will remain in force until January 21 when the court is expected to hear the motion on notice.
“An interim order of injunction is hereby granted restraining the defendants/respondents, their members, servants, agents, privies, and/or 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;
“Taking steps preparatory to or in furtherance of any industrial action, from the 12th January, 2026, until the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice,” the court ruled.
The court further ordered the Federal Government to serve the defendants with the court processes within seven days, while the resident doctors were given the liberty to apply for discharge or vary the order within seven days of service.
The judge said, “The claimants/applicants shall serve the defendants with this order within seven days of the date hereof.
“The defendants/respondents shall be at liberty to apply to discharge or vary this order within seven days after services of this order.”
Recall that NARD threatened to resume industrial action if the Federal Government fails to fully implement the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it previously signed with the body.
