Members of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors on Thursday morning commenced a nationwide strike despite Federal Government’s last-minute efforts to stop the action.

The strike which was scheduled to begin on Thursday followed an ultimatum issued to the Federal Government which expired on Wednesday.

The resident doctors, however, assured Nigerians that their action was not meant to hurt them.

NARD President, Dr Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi, announced the commencement of the nationwide strike during an interview on Channels Television.

“The strike commenced 8am this morning, and we enjoin all resident doctors to start the strike immediately,” he said.

“We had a meeting with the Minister of Labour from 4pm till about 12am this morning; we insist that the implementation of what we wrote on the strike notice should be intimated immediately.

“We are not just doing this for resident doctors, we are doing this for all health workers … the government needs to be more responsible,” Okhuaihwsuyi said.