The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) says it has given the Federal Government a two-week ultimatum to meet its demands.
NARD says the ultimatum ends on July 19 and is meant to give the government sufficient time to begin implementation of the resolutions of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreed on.
It adds that if the government fails to meet their demands by the end of the ultimatum, its members might embark on a nationwide strike.
While expressing disappointment with the government, the association of resident Doctors noted that despite the conciliatory meeting chaired by the then Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, the government had not begun implementation of its promises, seven weeks after.
Recall that on April 29, 2023, the NARD issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to meet its demands.
The ultimatum ended on May 13, 2023, but on Wednesday, May 17, the association began its five-day warning strike over unmet demands.
The warning strike ended on Monday, May 22, at 8 a.m.
The NARD Demands
Some of their demands include: 200 per cent review of their Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), issuance of a circular by the Federal Ministry of Health for replacement of doctors and nurses that have left the system with new ones, and the payment of salary arrears, improvement in hazard allowance by state governments, among others.
Meanwhile, after its virtual extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, the NARD issued a statement through its President, Dr. Emeka Orji.
“NEC calls on the government to, without further delay, pay all outstanding arrears owed our members, including the hazard allowance and the skipping arrears of 2014 and 2016 and the arrears of consequential adjustment of minimum wage as there is no justifiable reason to keep owing these arrears and allowances.
“We demand the immediate release and the implementation of the guidelines on one for one replacement of clinical workers to cushion the effect of the massive manpower shortage in our various hospitals nationwide.
“NEC calls on the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to discontinue the downgrading of the membership certificate issued by the West African Postgraduate Medical and Surgical colleges as this is not obtainable in other parts of West Africa where these same certificates are issued…”
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“NEC demands the immediate payment of all salary arrears, implementation of the CONMESS salary structure and new hazard allowance and domestication of the Medical Residency Training Act and payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund to our members in the state tertiary health institutions nationwide.
“The NEC of NARD insists on the immediate implementation of a minimum of 200 per cent increment in the CONMESS salary structure and upward review of the associated allowances, as requested in her previous letters on the subject matter, since the current economic realities in the country cannot justify the continued payment of CONMESS as it is at the moment or any increment below the 200 per cent as demanded.
“For purposes of emphasis, at the expiration of this further extended ultimatum by July 19, 2023, if all these demands are not met, we cannot guarantee industrial harmony in the Health sector nationwide.”
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