The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), which represents resident doctors, has decided to embark on a five-day warning strike which will begin on Wednesday.
Following the federal government’s refusal to accede to their demands, the doctors made the decision to embark on the warning strike.
Recall that on April 29, 2023, NARD gave the federal government a two-week deadline to comply with its demands or face labour unrest.
However, it was discovered that the two-week deadline expired on Saturday, May 13, 2023.
It was against this backdrop that the doctors after their six and half hours extraordinary National Executive Council meeting held virtually on Monday, resolved to embark on the warning strike.
The association said the strike will commence at 8 am on Wednesday, May 17, and will end Monday, May 22, at 8 am.
The NARD President, Dr Emeka Orji reportedly told The Punch that the strike would be total, involving both emergency and clinical operations in the hospitals.
Orji said despite the ultimatum issued to the government which ended on May 13, the government did not negotiate with the doctors regarding their demands.
Part of what the doctors are demanding includes the immediate increment in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure to the tune of 200% of the current gross salaries of doctors, the immediate withdrawal of the bill seeking to compel medical and dental graduates to render five-year compulsory services in Nigeria before being granted full licences to practice.
Other demands include, the quick implementation of CONMESS, the domestication of the Medical Residency Training Act, and a reassessment of the hazard allowance by all state governments and private tertiary health institutions where any sort of residency training is done, among others.
Ada Peter
