The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on Friday commenced a five-day warning strike after accusing the federal authorities of ignoring long-standing calls for over welfare and remuneration.
NARD, which constitutes the majority of medical personnel in Nigeria’s tertiary hospitals, mentioned the motion was essential as authorities inaction had left medical doctors with no selection.
Earlier strikes by resident medical doctors have usually crippled companies throughout hospitals nationwide.
The strike was confirmed in an announcement titled “Declaration of strike motion” and signed by NARD Secretary-Basic, Oluwasola Odunbaku.
“As clearly said in our earlier communique, the strike is scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m. at present (Friday),” it mentioned.
“All Centre management is anticipated to information their members accordingly. Additional updates shall be communicated to NEC members in the end.”
The medical doctors had issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the federal authorities on Wednesday to handle its excellent calls for, following the expiration of an earlier 10-day deadline on 10 September.
NARD had, in July, issued a three-week ultimatum, however within the curiosity of business concord, the NEC prolonged the deadline to permit for additional engagement with stakeholders.
Calls for, grievances
Among the many grievances are the non-disbursement of the 2025 Medical Residency Coaching Fund (MRTF), cost of 5 months’ arrears from the revised Consolidated Medical Wage Construction (CONMESS), and excellent specialist and hazard allowances.
The medical doctors additionally conveyed disappointment on the federal authorities’s failure to fulfil its commitments relating to the discharge of funds for the cost of the excellent 2025 MRTF to quite a few resident medical doctors.
It mentioned these medical doctors stay unpaid regardless of a number of ultimatums and extensions.
It additionally criticised the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria for downgrading membership certificates from the West African Faculties of Physicians and Surgeons.
“The E-NEC additionally acquired an replace on the woefully insufficient efforts exerted by the Oyo State authorities to sort out the challenges confronting members of the ARD LAUTECH Educating Hospital, Ogbomosho, amidst an ongoing indefinite strike motion on the establishment.
“The E-NEC condemned the negligence exhibited by most state governments in paying the MRTF to resident medical doctors underneath their make use of, deeming this an act of gross insensitivity.”
It additionally expressed disappointment within the federal authorities’s failure to handle its calls for regardless of quite a few ultimatums issued.
Name to motion
To keep away from indefinite industrial motion, the medical doctors are demanding the instant disbursement of the 2025 MRTF and the settlement of 5 months of excellent CONMESS arrears, together with different unpaid allowances.
It additionally known as on the MDCN to revive recognition of the West African postgraduate membership certificates and urged the Nationwide Postgraduate Medical Faculty of Nigeria to promptly challenge certificates to certified candidates consistent with worldwide greatest practices.
The council additional appealed to all state governors to prioritise medical doctors’ welfare, guarantee well timed cost of MRTF, and take proactive measures to curb emigration whereas sustaining industrial concord.
READ ALSO:Sufferers stranded as FCT resident medical doctors start strike
FCT medical doctors’ separate motion
In a associated improvement, the Affiliation of Resident Docs within the Federal Capital Territory (ARD-FCT) embarked on a seven-day warning strike on 8 September.
In a communiqué signed by ARD-FCT President George Ebong and different executives, the medical doctors listed lack of manpower, poor welfare, unpaid salaries, unexplained deductions, the psychological toll of lengthy working hours, and the absence of latest recruitment in FCT hospitals since 2011 as key points.
The strike is scheduled to run till 15 September, after which the medical doctors mentioned they might evaluation their motion based mostly on authorities response.
