The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) was formed in 1978 by a coalition of the local ARDs of University College Hospital, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, and University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital. Dr. Celestine Odum from (ARD LUTH) was elected the pioneer president of NARD.
Unfavourable government policies during the Shehu Shagari regime at the start of the Second Nigerian Republic such as the stoppage of car loans given to medical graduates and other issues bordering on salaries, call duty, structured residency programs and formalization of overseas training ensued.
NARD activities were coordinated from LUTH and LUTH ARD contributed significantly to the militarisation of NARD. The relationship between NARD and the NMA served as springboard for agitations in the early 1980s before their eventual proscription on February 22, 1985, by the General Muhammadu Buhari led administration.General Ibrahim Babangida lifted the proscription in order to allow the association participate in national discourse.