The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) after a virtually held National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on 15th May 2023, declared a five-day warning strike following the failure of the Federal Government to meet her demand. The five-day strike commences on Wednesday, May 17, and ends on Monday, May 22. Recall, On April 29, 2023, the association issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to implement the agreements or face industrial action of which the ultimatum elapsed on Saturday, May 13, 2023.
The doctors are demanding an immediate increment in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure to the tune of 200 percent of the current gross salary of doctors. The Resident doctors in the letter written on July 7, 2022, to the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, are also demanding the review of CONMESS.
The Resident doctors are demanding the 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.
They are also demanding the commencement of payment of all salary arrears owed to its members, including 2014, 2015, and 2016 salary arrears, as well as areas of the consequential adjustment of the minimum wage.
Reacting to the planned industrial action by the aggrieved resident doctors, the Federal Government described the move as unnecessary.
Briefing journalists in Abuja after a special Federal Executive Council meeting, the Labour Minister, Dr Chris Ngige said the parent body of the association the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) is already engaging with relevant government agencies on the issue.
