Nigeria’s federal government faces a growing crisis in its public sector as a doctors’ strike continues and university lecturers threaten a new, indefinite nationwide strike. The situation puts pressure on the country’s health and education systems simultaneously.

On Tuesday, the government made a fresh appeal to the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to end its ongoing industrial action. A statement from the Minister of Labour revealed that 19 out of the 20 demands made by the doctors have already been addressed.

The Minister detailed the government’s actions, stating that a significant salary increase for the doctors has started being paid. He also confirmed that work is underway to resolve various arrears of salaries and allowances owed to doctors in several federal hospitals across the country.

However, this plea was immediately overshadowed by a new threat from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The lecturers’ union announced via social media that it will close all universities nationwide starting Friday, citing the government’s failure to meet its demands.

The government urged the doctors to respect the law, arguing that it is unfair to continue a strike while negotiations are actively ongoing. It insists that with most of their demands met, the doctors have no reason to continue the walkout.

This dual standoff leaves the government managing two major labor disputes at once, raising the possibility of widespread disruption in essential public services for millions of Nigerians.