Posted on: Mon 27-09-2021

The National Association of Resident Doctors ( NARD) has vowed to continue its eight- week old strike action, just as its new executives were elected, yesterday, in Bauchi.

NARD, in a communiqué, yesterday, at the end of its 41st Annual General Meeting ( AGM) and Scientific Conference, held at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital ( ATBUTH), Bauchi State, tagged “The NARD Agenda,

Bauchi 2021” with the theme: ‘ Beyond Paying Lip Service: Strategic Options For Reversing Medical Tourism In Nigeria’, faulted the Federal Government for taking NARD to court, due to the ongoing strike meant to demand improvement in members’ welfare.

The body lamented the acute manpower shortage in most tertiary health institutions and the attendant burnout effects on its members. It noted with serious concerns that the situation is worsened by the ongoing deadly brain drain, decimating the nation’s health care system.

The communiqué noted with that despite several meetings with the presidential committee on salaries and other top government stakeholders on the review of hazard allowance for health workers, the allowance still remains a paltry N5,000.

It also noted the non- payment of COVID- 19 inducement allowance to some of its members in federal and state tertiary institutions.

After critical appraisal of the performances of both federal and state governments on all the issues that led to the ongoing strike, the AGM unanimously resolved by vote to continue the total and indefinite strike action, until the minimum demands are met.

---

---