Strike Looms As Resident Doctors Give Federal Govt 14-day Ultimatum

Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has given the federal government a 14-day ultimatum to meet the demands of its members or face industrial action.

This was contained in a communique issued yesterday at the end of the extra-ordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the association, held virtually.

“For purposes of emphasis, at the expiration of this further extended ultimatum by July 19, 2023, if all these demands are not met, we cannot guarantee industrial harmony in the Health Sector nationwide,” NARD warned.

The association had suspended its five-day warning strike which it embarked on from Wednesday, 17th May 2023 to Sunday, 21st May 2023, after issuing the federal government a two-week ultimatum on April 29, 2023.

The doctors had threatened to embark on an indefinite strike should the government fail to address the issues raised.

The meeting, according to NARD president, Dr. Emeka Orji, was to appraise the level of implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the government on May 19, 2023, as well as discuss other pressing issues on the welfare of NARD members.

The doctors insisted on the immediate implementation of a 200 percent increment in the CONMESS salary structure and upward review of the associated allowances.

They also demand the immediate payment of the 2023 MRTF as contained in the approved 2023 budget in line with various agreements they had reached with the government.

Other demands are “the immediate release and the implementation of the guidelines on one-for-one replacement of clinical staff to cushion the effect of the massive manpower shortage in our various hospitals nationwide.

“The immediate payment of all salary arrears, implementation  of the CONMESS salary structure and new hazard allowance and  domestication of the Medical Residency Training Act and payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund to our members in the State Tertiary Health Institutions nationwide.”