After their decision to embark on strike, The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has declared its intention to engage in a daily peaceful protest and picketing campaign, starting on August 9th at 10:00 AM.
The targets of these demonstrations include the Federal Ministry of Health, the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, and various federal and state tertiary health institutions across the country. This announcement was made through a letter addressed to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health, signed by NARD’s President, Dr. Emeka Orji, and Secretary-General, Dr. Chikezie Kelechi.
The purpose of these demonstrations is to emphasize the association’s long-standing demands, which they assert have been consistently ignored by both the Federal Government and the Federal Ministry of Health. NARD expressed their dissatisfaction with the lack of action despite multiple ultimatums and the unwavering commitment of Nigerian resident doctors.
The association believes that it’s now imperative to present their perspective and spotlight the deep-rooted challenges plaguing the health sector, including systemic decay, corruption, and a history of neglect towards public health institutions. These issues have often resulted in recurrent industrial actions.
While NARD remains hopeful that the government will address their concerns genuinely before August 9th, they have made it clear that if their demands remain unmet, they will proceed with their planned actions. It’s worth noting that NARD had previously initiated a “total and indefinite strike action” on July 25th.
The roster of demands put forth by the resident doctors encompasses various critical aspects. These include the immediate disbursement of the 2023 MRTF, the prompt release of a circular detailing one-for-one replacement policies, and the timely settlement of skipping arrears.
Furthermore, the association is advocating for an upward revision of CONMESS salaries in alignment with the 2014 CONMESS values, the settlement of arrears related to the consequential adjustment of minimum wages for doctors previously omitted, and the reversal of the downgrading of membership certificates by the MDCN (Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria).
The comprehensive list of demands extends to encompass additional crucial issues. These comprise the prompt disbursement of MRTF and new hazard allowances, the effective implementation of corrected CONMESS structures in State Tertiary Health Institutions, and the rectification of omitted hazard allowance arrears.
