Warning Strike: Residents Doctors Resume To Duty
After a five-day nationwide warning strike, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has directed its members to resume work today (Monday).
The Nigerian Voice understands that the warning strike was called off after NARD three-hour Extraordinary National Executive Council meeting.
The group, however, said it would review Federal Government’s commitment to resolving the issues in the next two weeks.
It could be recalled that the association on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Government to address the issues raised by the resident doctors.
It, however, said it would be reviewing the strike in two weeks. NARD had on May 17 embarked on a nationwide strike to press home its demands from the Federal Government.
The doctors are demanding immediate massive recruitment of clinical staff in the hospitals; immediate withdrawal of the bill seeking to compel medical and dental graduates to render five-year compulsory services in Nigeria before being granted full licences to practise; immediate infrastructural development in the hospitals with a subsequent allocation of at least 15 per cent of the budgetary provisions to health in line with the 2001 Abuja declaration.
Other demands are the immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund in line with the agreements reached at the stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Federal Ministry of Health on February 15, 2023; the immediate increment in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure to the tune of 200 per cent of the gross salary of Doctors in addition to the allowances included in the letter written to the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire on July 7, 2022, for the review of CONMESS; among others.
The President of the association, Dr Emeka Orji, told newsmen that the strike had been suspended with effect from 8am on Monday.
He said the association would review the progress regarding its demands during its ordinary general meeting in Lagos.
Orji said, “The strike has been suspended and work resumes at 8am tomorrow (Monday). The ultimatum extended till June 2, 2023, for reassessment.”