Posted on: Mon 31-07-2023

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), yesterday, vowed to continue its ongoing nationwide indefinite strike action until reasonable progress is made by the government in addressing her demands as contained in the ultimatum issued to the Federal Government (FG) on July 5, 2023.

This position was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of NARD statutory National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, tagged, “LasGIDI 2023,” hosted by the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, Lagos with theme, “Bullying in Medical Practice: a matter of Perspective?”

Similarly, medical doctors, under the auspices of Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) in Kaduna State have given the state government a seven-day ultimatum to improve the condition of service, otherwise they will embark on an indefinite strike.

Already, resident doctors at Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital (BDTH) have been directed by its union to embark on rendering services just between the hours of 8am and 1pm daily until the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum.

In the communiqué signed by Dr. Orji Emeka Innocent and Dr. Chikezie Kelechi, President and Secretary-General respectively, the NARD called on the governors of Abia, Kaduna, and Enugu states, as well as other states where it members’ welfare is neglected, to as a matter of urgency look into the challenges in order to resolve them amicably.

According to the communiqué, the doctors resolved that it would continue the ongoing nationwide strike, demanding the immediate release of the circular on the One-for-One policy for the replacement of exited clinical workers for implementation.

It stressed that it cannot continue to watch it members lose their lives and break down under the weight of work overload occasioned by massive depletion of clinical staff in hospitals on account of brain drain.

They also demanded the immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training fund (MRTF) and salaries and arrears, including the salary arrears of 2014-2016, arrears of hazard allowance, arrears of consequential adjustment of the minimum wage, and promotion arrears to deserving members without further delay.

Other demands include, a call on the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) to reverse herself on the downgrading of the membership certificate, adding that continuing on this path would only reduce the value placed on the postgraduate medical training in Nigeria.

The NARD observed the rising state of insecurity in the country, particularly bemoaning the kidnapping of one of her trainers and mentor, Prof. Ekanem Philip-Ephraim, a Consultant Neurologist with University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Calabar, who has spent over two weeks now in kidnappers’ den.

In a statement by the President of ARD, BDTH Branch, Dr. Godwin Yohanna Abrak, the association complained about poor remuneration and facilities in the state government health institutions.

He disclosed that the remuneration of doctors in Kaduna State is one of the lowest in the country, such that house-officers and resident doctors in the state are paid about 35 per cent and 30 per cent less than those in federal institutions respectively.

He said it is what is responsible for the continuous exit of doctors from the state health institution to federal ones and out of the country.

Abrak lamented the non-implementation of the new hazard allowance and the reviewed of CONMESS salary structure by the Kaduna State government. He also revealed that there is delay in the payment of salaries of newly employed doctors.

Abrak stated that while they remain open for negotiations on the demands, failure to meet them will give room to embark on an indefinite strike.

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