Strike: Resident Doctors Give FG 2-week Ultimatum

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued a two-week ultimatum to the federal government to pay the newly reviewed Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) to its members or another face strike.

NARD is also demanding the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage, hazard allowance and other agreements reached.

These were contained in a communique jointly signed by NARD’s president, Dare Ishaya; secretary general, Suleiman Abiodun, and publicity and social secretary, Alfa Yusuf, at the end of its July National Executive Council (NEC) meeting and Scientific Conference themed: “The Quagmire of Medical Workplace Hazards: Defending A Nation Under A Shade of Arrows”, in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

The communique readS: “The NEC observed with dismay, the unnecessary delay in the implementation and payment of the new Hazard Allowance for over seven (7) months since its approval on 22nd December 2021 in a circular with reference No. SWC/S/04/S.218/11/406. Also, the delay in the payment of the 2020 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) to our members, who were omitted despite several efforts by the association.

“The NEC observed that the skipping arrears covering 2014, 2015 and 2016 have remained unpaid despite several negotiations with the federal government over the matter.

“The NEC noted that several years after the implementation of a new minimum wage in 2019, some of our members are yet to benefit from the consequential adjustment of minimum wage.

“The NEC urges the federal government to expedite action on the payment of the newly reviewed Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) within a two (2) weeks ultimatum to enable our members to meet up with the closing date of examination registration as advertised by the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN).

“The NEC demands the immediate implementation and payment of the new Hazard Allowance and arrears as contained in the circular from the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC) dated 22nd December 2021 with reference number SWC/S/04/S.218/11/406 within two weeks.

“The NEC shall by the expiration of the two weeks ultimatum, reconvene to review the progress made so far and take further actions for which nationwide industrial harmony may not be guaranteed.”

The medical doctors further called on the federal government, the Nigerian Governor’s Forum (NGF), stakeholders, and well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on some state governors who are owing their colleagues several months of arrears of salaries and allowances.

They enjoined the federal and all state governments to look into the issue of assault on medical Doctors and thoroughly investigate the ongoing cases and put measures in place to nip the menace in the bud to forestall future occurrences, adding that these inhumane acts have affected NARD members both physically and mentally.

On brain drain in the health sector, NARD urged the federal government to take steps toward curtailing the trend in the sector and find ways of eliminating all bureaucratic bottlenecks in the employment and replacement of the Resident Doctors leaving the country’s institutions daily to seek greener pastures pastures.