The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has declared a total and indefinite strike action in response to the government’s refusal to meet its members’ requests.
Dr. Emeka Orji, president of NARD, announced yesterday that the strike would begin on Wednesday, July 26, 2023.
He stated that the decision was made during the NARD NEC meeting on Tuesday in Lagos.
Orji stated that the Association’s primary requests include the immediate payment of the 2023 MRTF, the prompt release of the circular on one-for-one replacement, the payment of skipping arrears, and an upward revision of CONMESS in line with full salary restoration to the 2014 value of CONMESS.
Other demands include payment of arrears of consequential adjustment of minimum to omitted doctors, reversal of the downgrading of the membership certificate by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), payment of MRTF, new hazard allowance, skipping and implementation of corrected CONMESS in State Tertiary Health Institutions, and payment of omitted hazard allowance arrears.
BizWatch Nigeria recalls that Tajudeen Abbas, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, asked the NARD leadership on Monday to grant him two weeks so that he could meet with President Bola Tinubu about the Association’s requests.
Ultimatum
NARD had on July 5, 2023 given a new two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government (FG), demanding a 200% increase in its members’ wage structure, among other things.
The resolution was reached on Wednesday at a virtual Extraordinary National Executive Council Meeting (E-NEC) to assess the level of implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the government on May 19, 2023, following the Association’s five-day warning strike on May 17, 2023.
NARD President Orji Innocent, Secretary General Chikezie Kelechi, and Publicity and Social Secretary Umar Musa all signed the communique.
“We demand the immediate release and the implementation of the guidelines on one-for-one replacement of clinical staff to cushion the effect of the massive manpower shortage in our various hospitals nationwide.
“NEC calls on the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to discontinue the downgrading of the membership certificate issued by the West African Postgraduate Medical and Surgical colleges as this is not obtainable in other parts of West Africa where these same certificates are issued.
“NEC demands the immediate payment of all Salary Arrears, implementation of the CONMESS salary structure and new Hazard Allowance and domestication of the Medical Residency Training Act and payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund to our members in the State Tertiary Health Institutions nationwide.
“NEC hereby wishes to further extend her already expired ultimatum issued to the government by 2 weeks with effect from today 5th July 2023.
“The NEC of NARD insist on the immediate implementation of a minimum of 200% increment in the CONMESS (Consolidated Medical Salary Structure) salary structure and upward review of the associated allowances as requested in her previous letters on the subject matter since the current economic realities in the country cannot justify the continued payment of CONMESS as it is at the moment or any increment below the 200% as demanded.
“For purposes of emphasis, at the expiration of this further extended ultimatum by 19th of July 2023, if all these demands are not met, we cannot guarantee industrial harmony in the Health Sector nationwide.”
