The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has given President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime two weeks to increase the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).

The association made this known on Saturday in a communique issued at the end of the National Executive Council (NEC) extraordinary council meeting held in Abeokuta, Ogun state.

The communique was signed by the president, Innocent Orji, the secretary-general, Kelechi Chikezie and the publicity and social secretary, Musa Umar.

It said that the increment should be 200 per cent of the current gross salary of doctors and be in addition to the new allowances included in the letter written to the Minister of Health in 2022 for the review of CONMESS.

The association observed that despite several engagements with the federal government on the need to upwardly review CONMESS, which was last reviewed over 10 years ago, there are no changes.

It added that the previous Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) on CONMESS stated clearly that the salary structure would be due for review after five years, but this has yet to be done since the implementation in 2014, though the approval was given in 2009.

“NEC has resolved to issue the federal government a two-week ultimatum beginning on Saturday, April 29, to resolve all these demands, following the expiration of which on May 13, we may not be able to guarantee industrial harmony in the sector nationwide.”

The group also demanded 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.

NARD also demanded the commencement of payment of all salary arrears owed to its members, including 2014, 2015 and 2016 salary arrears and areas of the consequential adjustment of the minimum wage.

“NEC regrettably observed that many state governors are yet to implement the appropriate CONMESS structure, domesticate the Medical Residency Training Act (MRTA) or improve on the hazard allowance paid to our colleagues and other health workers while owing a backlog of salary arrears to our members.

“NEC seriously frowned at these negative developments in the states, which have lingered for a long time now, wondering how such state governors get to sleep at night seeing that they are endangering the lives of the citizens of their various states.”

On the issue of compulsory five-year service licensing of doctors being proposed by the House of Representatives, the association vehemently condemned the bill.

It said the bill sought to enslave young Nigerian doctors by restricting their fundamental human rights of freedom of choice and movement, adding that such would escalate the challenge of brain drain in the health sector.

(NAN)