National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) Gives Nigerian Government Two-Week Ultimatum to Implement Agreements or Face Nationwide Industrial Disharmony
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued a two-week ultimatum to the Nigerian government, demanding the immediate commencement of the implementation of all pending agreements. Failure to meet their demands within the stipulated time may result in a nationwide strike, according to a communique issued at the end of the association’s Wednesday Extraordinary National Executive Council Meeting.
The communique, signed by NARD President Emeka Orji, states that the two-week ultimatum, which ends on July 19, provides ample time for the government to initiate the implementation of the resolutions from the previously agreed-upon Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Expressing disappointment, the communique highlights that it has been seven weeks since the conclusion of the five-day warning strike by the association, and the resolutions of the conciliatory meeting chaired by the former Minister of Labour and Employment have yet to be implemented, despite the set timelines for implementation.
The communique further emphasizes that if the government fails to meet their demands by the stated deadline, the NARD cannot guarantee industrial harmony in the health sector nationwide.
Background:
On May 17, the doctors embarked on a five-day warning strike after the government failed to address their demands. The association had previously issued an ultimatum in January, demanding the immediate implementation and payment of the new hazard allowance and arrears, among other issues affecting its members.
The strike was suspended after the signing of an MoU between the doctors and the federal government.
Key Demands:
The NARD is calling for the immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), tangible steps towards an upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), and the payment of all salary arrears owed to its members since 2015.
Additionally, the association is demanding the immediate recruitment of clinical staff in hospitals, the elimination of bureaucratic limitations hindering the prompt replacement of doctors and nurses who leave the system, and the review of hazard allowances by state governments and private tertiary health institutions where residency training is conducted.
Resident Doctors:
Resident doctors play a vital role in Nigeria’s tertiary hospitals as they undergo specialized training. When the NARD goes on strike, the functioning of these hospitals is significantly affected.