The Nigerian Association of Residents Doctors (NARD) has again threatened to commence a strike if the Nigerian government fails to meet its demands, arguing that some arrears for 2014, 2015, and 2016 have remained unpaid despite several negotiations with the government.
Penpushing reports that the signal to the fresh strike was contained in a letter signed by President of the association Dr Emeka Orji, addressed to the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, on Monday, stating that processes for the strike would commence if the demands are not met before its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting scheduled for 24 January, 2023
The aggrieved Medical Doctors are demanding amongst other things, the immediate implementation, and payment of the new hazard allowance and arrears, and also listed the nonpayment of the consequential adjustment of the minimum wage to some of its members and delays in the upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).
Penpushing further reports that the association highlighted the failure of the government to clear salary arrears of members in state tertiary health institutions including Abia, Imo, Ondo, Ekiti, and Gombe States, and the non-domestication of the Medical Residency Training Act (MRTA) in most states across the federation.
The Nigerian Association of Residents Doctors (NARD pointed out that, although some of the demands have been addressed, and that many of them remain largely unresolved and have become sources of serious nationwide agitation.
‘We sincerely appreciate the efforts of the government through its ministries, departments, and agencies in resolving some of the issues raised. However, many of them remain largely unresolved and have now become sources of serious nationwide agitation threatening industrial peace and harmony in the health sector.”
Penpushing reports that it is recalled that about six months ago, the Nigerian Doctors issued an ultimatum to the government on account of lingering unresolved issues affecting its members, including the irregularities in the new circular on the upward review of the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF).
‘We can confirm very clearly that if these issues are not sorted out before that meeting, our members will likely give us mandate to immediately kick start processes that will lead to a nationwide industrial disharmony in the health sector”, the association declared.
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