The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has given the Federal Government a two-week ultimatum to meet its demands.
The professional body said the ultimatum, which is meant to give the government sufficient time to begin implementation of the resolutions of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreed upon, ends on July 19.
NARD said, its members might embark on a nationwide strike if Federal government fails to meet its demand by July 19.
The association expressed its disappointment with the government and noted that Seven weeks after the conciliatory meeting chaired by the then Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, the government had not begun implementation of its promises.
On April 29, 2023, the NARD issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to meet its demands.
The ultimatum ended on May 13, 2023, but on Wednesday, May 17, the association began its five-day warning strike over unmet demands.
The warning strike ended on Monday, May 22, at 8 a.m.
Some of their demands include: 200 per cent review of their Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), issuance of a circular by the Federal Ministry of Health for replacement of doctors and nurses that have left the system with new ones, and the payment of salary arrears, improvement in hazard allowance by state governments, among others.
After its virtual extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, the NARD issued a statement through its President, Dr. Emeka Orji.
“NEC demands the immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), as contained in the approved 2023 budget, in line with various agreements reached with the government.
“NEC calls on the government to, without further delay, pay all outstanding arrears owed our members, including the hazard allowance and the skipping arrears of 2014 and 2016 and the arrears of consequential adjustment of minimum wage as there is no justifiable reason to keep owing these arrears and allowances.
“We demand the immediate release and the implementation of the guidelines on one for one replacement of clinical workers to cushion the effect of the massive manpower shortage in our various hospitals nationwide.
“NEC calls on the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to discontinue the downgrading of the membership certificate issued by the West African Postgraduate Medical and Surgical colleges as this is not obtainable in other parts of West Africa where these same certificates are issued…”
“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,” the NARD said.
