Strike Looms As Resident Doctors Give Federal Govt Ultimatum, Demand 200% Salary Increment

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has given the federal government a two-week ultimatum to implement agreements concerning the demands of its members or face industrial action.

This was contained in a communique issued yesterday at the end the extra-ordinary National Executive Council meeting of the association held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The meeting, according to the communique, was predicated upon serious burning issues affecting the welfare of resident doctors and other healthcare workers in the country.

The communique read: “NEC resolved to issue the government a two-week ultimatum beginning today, 29th April 2023, to resolve all these demands, following the expiration of which on the 13th May 2023, we may not be able to guarantee industrial harmony in the sector nationwide.”

The demands include “immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) in line with the agreements reached at the stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Federal Ministry of Health as well as payment of all their salary arrears.

“Massive recruitment of clinical staff in the hospitals while demanding complete abolishment of bureaucratic limitations to the immediate replacement of

Doctors who leave the system.

“Immediate infrastructural development in various hospitals without further delay and insists on at least 15 per cent  budgetary allocation to health subsequently.

“Immediate implementation of CONMESS, Domestication of MRTA,

and review of hazard allowance by all the state governments as well as Private Tertiary Health Institutions where any form of Residency Training is done.

“Immediate commencement of payment of all salary arrears owed to our members by the various state governments, notorious amongst which is the Abia State  government.”

The doctors have also called for 200 percent gross salary increment in addition to the new allowances included in the letter they wrote to the Minister of Health on the 7th of July 2022 for the review of CONMESS.