Nigerian Resident Doctors Commence Indefinite Strike Over Unmet Demands

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has initiated an indefinite strike starting from 12 am on Wednesday.

According to Emeka Orji, the president of NARD, the decision was made after the association issued a two-week ultimatum to the federal government in early July, urging the implementation of their demands.

During a meeting of its national executive council (NEC), NARD decided to carry out industrial action in pursuit of their demands. The key issues at stake include the immediate payment of the 2023 medical residency training fund (MRTF) and the release of the circular on one-for-one replacement.

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Furthermore, NARD is seeking the payment of skipping arrears and an upward revision of the consolidated medical salary structure (CONMESS) to be in line with the full salary restoration to the 2014 value of CONMESS. The association is also demanding the settlement of the arrears of consequential adjustment of minimum pay for omitted doctors and the reversal of the downgrading of the membership certificate by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).

Among their additional demands are the provision of new hazard allowance, skipping, the implementation of corrected CONMESS in state health institutions, and the payment of omitted hazard allowance arrears.

In an attempt to find a resolution before the strike, Tajudeen Abbas, the speaker of the House of Representatives, held a meeting with NARD on Monday. During the meeting, Abbas encouraged the doctors to openly discuss the issues at hand and suggest practical solutions, considering that the government’s available revenues might not fully meet all their demands.