Resident Doctors Begin Nationwide Warning Strike

Nigeria's resident doctors under the auspices of the National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (NARD) will begin a 5-day warning strike starting from Wednesday, May 11, because the federal government has failed to fulfil remuneration and training agreements previously agreed with the association.

President of NARD, Dr. Muhammad Askira, told journalists at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday that the decision to go on strike was reached at the association's extra-ordinary executive council meeting held on May 8.

“These are issues that have been lingering for years. We gave them a 21-day ultimatum and extended the ultimatum with another 14 days, and we gave them another two more days before this warning strike.

“It is quite unfortunate that after all these we are embarking on a warning strike. We are supposed to proceed on an indefinite strike but we decided to proceed on a warning strike,” said Askira.

The demands made by NARD to the authorities, according to the president, include remuneration and residency training programmes. He added that some members in some states were yet to be paid their salaries. Among those being owed salaries were doctors in Federal Teaching Hospitals.

The strike had earlier been postponed out of respect the association said it had for President Muhammadu Buhari and members of the National Assembly who had intervened at the initial stage. Embarking on an indefinite strike will be a last resort should the government fail to heed their warning and “redeem its pledge,” said Askira.

The warning strike will begin at 8am on May 11, and end on May 15, while all members of the association are expected to resume work on May 16 at 8am, the President added.