By Nicole Augustine
Barring an last minute change, the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), will today begin its five day warning strike action.
President, NARD, Orji Emeka Innocent told a press Conference in Abuja, that after the national executive Council of NARD meeting on the 15th of May 2023, another meeting was convened to review the progress made and action taken by the government to address the issues raised in the two-week ultimatum issued which expired on Saturday, 13th of May, 2023.
The President said the association observed rather unfortunately, that till the expiration of the two-week ultimatum, the Government has neither reached out to the Association nor made any significant moves at resolving the issues raised. a situation they considered asembarrassing for a nation touted as the “Giant of Africa”.
The Association frowned at this development and wondered how the Government could claim to have the interest of the Nigerian citizens at heart and still neglect such a well-publicized ultimatum.
Recall the association has earlier issued an ultimatum to the Federal Government to demands the Immediate massive recruitment of clinical staff in the hospitals and abolishment of the bureaucratic limitations to the immediate replacement of Doctors and Nurses who leave the system.
They also demanded Immediate infrastructural development in our hospitals with subsequent allocation of at least 15% of the budgetary provisions to health in line with the Abuja declaration of 2001, Immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) in line with the agreements reached at the stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Federal Ministry of Health at the conference room of the Honourable Minister of State for Health on the 15th of February 2023, increment in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, CONMESS, to the tune of 200% of the gross salary of Doctors in addition to the allowances included in the letter written by NARD to the Honourable Minister of Health on the 7th of July 2022 for the review of CONMESS.
The demand also include the commencement of payment of all salary and other arrears owed our members including 2014, 2015 and 2016 salary arrears as well as arrears of the consequential adjustment of the minimum wage, Immediate withdrawal and jettisoning of the ill-conceived bill by Hon. Ganiyu Johnson seeking to enslave young Nigerian Doctors, Immediate implementation of CONMESS, domestication of the Medical Residency Training Act (MRTA), and review of hazard allowance by all the State Governments as well as Private Tertiary Health Institutions where Residency Training is done.
He said, it is regrettably observed that most of the issues raised had been contained in previous ultimatums issued to Government last year but still extended to the present time despite the refusal of the Government to act on them. NEC wondered how we got to this point as a nation and hoped this dangerous trend is reversed as quickly as possible.
He hinted that after a long deliberation on the observations made, they have resolved to: Embark on a five-day warning strike action from 8:00 am on Wednesday, 17th May 2023 to Sunday, 21st May 2023. Work resumes by 8:00 am on Monday, 22nd May 2023.
He Called on the Federal Government to address the issues raised before the May 29th hand over date as further industrial harmony cannot be guaranteed after the warning strike should the issues be left unresolved.
“Review progress made during and after the strike at the Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) of NARD slated to hold in the next two weeks and decide the next line of action, He said.
He appreciated the efforts made by the Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chairman, House Committee on Healthcare Services, Hon. Dr Yusuf Tanko Sununu, and all stakeholders in Government who have shown interest in resolving these challenges.