While President Buhari is in London for a routine medical check-up, some members of the Nigerian Association of Residents Doctors began a nationwide strike despite desperate efforts by the Nigerian government to stop it.

The doctors said in a tweet on its official Twitter handle said the industrial action wasn't meant to hurt the public.

The association said on its Twitter handle, @nard_nigeria, on Thursday morning: “Nigerians must understand that we love them and the strike is not intended to hurt them but to challenge the Nigerian government @MBuhari @Fmohnigeria @LabourMinNG whose responsibilities amongst others is to care for her citizens and labor force to do the needful.”

The NARD President, Dr Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi, also said the strike commenced by 8 am Thursday.

The strike commenced two days after President Muhammadu Buhari left the country for the UK for a medical checkup.

A statement by the Presidency on Tuesday said the President “is due back in the country during the second week of April 2021.”

Nigerians must understand that we love them and the strike is not intended to hurt them but to challenge the Nigerian government @MBuhari @Fmohnigeria @LabourMinNG whose responsibilities amongst others is to care for her citizens and labour force to do the needful.#IstanWithNARD pic.twitter.com/GSpYGa8nR3

— NARD NIGERIA (@nard_nigeria) April 1, 2021