THE Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors – NARD, has issued a warning to the Federal government of its impending indefinite strike action from Wednesday 9th August.
President of the association, Dr. Emeka Orji, and its Secretary General, Dr Kelechi Chikezie on Saturday all signed a statement confirming this.
As part of its protests, the union will blockade the Federal Ministry of Health, the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, and the federal and state tertiary health institutions in the country.
Tagged “Notice of nationwide mass protests and picketing by NARD,” the notice was written to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health, Olufunso Adebiyi.
This comes after the government had failed to meet its demands after a 2wks ultimatum issued to them.
“We wish to bring to your notice, the decision of the National Executive Council of NARD to embark on daily peaceful protests and picketing of the Federal Ministry of Health, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, as well as all federal and state tertiary health institutions nationwide, with effect from Wednesday, August 9, 2023, by 10 am,” the notice partly read.
“This has become necessary to press home our demands which have been largely neglected by our parent ministry and the Federal Government. We are pained that rather than make genuine and concerted efforts to resolve the challenges that led to the industrial action despite repeated ultimatums, our parent ministry and the Federal Government have chosen to demonise Nigerian resident doctors instead, after all, their sacrifices and patriotism.
“We, therefore, resolved that it is time the whole world hears our side of the story – the decay and corruption in the health sector, as well as the neglect the public health institutions have suffered all these years that led to repeated industrial actions.
“We believe that the government still has time to genuinely address the issues at stake before Wednesday, 9th August 2023, or leave us with no other option,” the notice read.
The demands of the association include: That the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria seize downgrading the membership certificate issued by the West African Postgraduate Medical and Surgical Colleges; the swift payment of all salary arrears; the implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure and; new hazard allowance.
The association also calls on the FG to: domesticate the Medical Residency Training Act; as well as implement the one-for-one replacement policy for healthcare workers.
On 1st of August, 2023, the Federal Government had instructed the Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors in the Federal Tertiary Hospitals to implement the “no work, no pay” policy on the NARD striking members.
An attendance register for all resident doctors willing to work was, therefore, to be strictly adhered to by the hospitals.
