The National Industrial Court, Abuja division, has ordered the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to suspend the ongoing nationwide strike.

The National Industrial Court judge, John Targema, asked all parties in the suit to maintain status quo, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

Targema said having looked especially on the affidavit of extreme urgency, the grounds of the application, the affidavit in support of same and arguments of counsel for the applicant, and equally weighed the submissions and arguments of counsel on the law as it stands on the application, it is hereby ordered that applicant and the defendant suspend all forms of hostilities forthwith, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

The judge ordered that a hearing notice be issued and other processes served on the defendant, including the originating summons and adjourned the matter to September fifteen for a hearing of the motion on notice and any other pending application on its merit.

The doctors had commenced the nationwide strike on August one over irregular payment of salaries, brain drain, and other issues.