Doctors give reasons for suspension of strike

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) said it suspended its two-week-old nationwide strike after seeing that the Federal Government was addressing its demands.

The President of NARD, Emeka Orji, who disclosed this, on Saturday, said the Federal Government was making significant progress to address its demands.

Consequently, he said the National Executive Council (NEC) of NARD met and concluded to give the government two weeks to meet their demands.

“We also observed that the Federal Government has approved the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), and has started work on the circular on one-for-one replacement,” he said.

“The circular on one-for-one replacement is a very important demand because we believe it would address the severe manpower shortage but from what we have seen, it would take another two weeks for government to finalise it.”

He said all resident doctors are directed to resume 8 a.m. on Saturday, noting that there will be a review of progress made in two weeks.

The members of NARD embarked on industrial action on 26 July following the failure of the Nigerian government to meet their demands.

The doctors are demanding, among other issues, the immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), tangible steps on the “upward review” of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), and payment of all salary arrears owed its members since 2015.

The doctors also want the immediate massive recruitment of clinical staff in the hospitals and the abolishment of the bureaucratic limitations to the immediate replacement of doctors and nurses who leave the system.

They also want the immediate review of hazard allowance by all the state governments as well as private tertiary health institutions where any form of residency training is done.

The resident doctors comprise the bulk of medical personnel in Nigeria’s tertiary hospitals; hence health activities are mostly crippled when they are on strike.