The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has threatened to embark on a nationwide strike if the Federal Government fails to meet its demands.
The resident doctors made this known via a letter addressed to the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire on Monday.
The NARD, in a letter signed by its president, Dr Emeka Innocent Orji, said processes for the strike would commence if the issues are not addressed before its January 2023 National Executive Council (NEC) meeting slated for January 24 to 28, 2023.
The association, in the letter, noted that it had issued an ultimatum to the Federal Government six months ago on account of lingering unresolved issues affecting its members.
The NARD listed the issues to include the irregularities in the new circular on an upward review of the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), outstanding payment of the arrears of the new hazard allowance, non-payment of the skipping arrears for 2014, 2015 and 2016, and non-payment of the consequential adjustment of the minimum wage to some of its members.
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Other issues listed by the association were the delay in the upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure(CONMESS), salary arrears of its members in state tertiary health institutions running into several months, including Abia, Imo, Ondo, Ekiti, and Gombe states, and non-domestication of the Medical Residency Training Act (MRTA) in most states.
“Sir, our January 2023 National Executive Council meeting has been scheduled for January 24th to 28th 2023, and we can confirm very clear feelers that if these issues are not sorted out before that meeting, our members will likely give us mandate to immediately kick-start processes that will lead to a nationwide industrial disharmony in the health sector.
“Sir, we know how critical this period is and the chaos that will ensue if government does not take steps to prevent this from happening, and so we humbly implore you to use your good offices to resolve these issues before our January NEC meeting.
“Sir, we trust in your fatherly disposition and believe that you will come to our aid and save this nation from this imminent industrial disharmony,” the resident doctors noted.
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