As the strike by members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) enters its fifth day, the federal government has appealed to the doctors to return to work.

Minister of State for Health Iziaq Salako made the appeal on Wednesday at the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Healthcare and Medical Expo 2.0, themed “Reversing Medical Tourism: Africans Investing in Africa.”

Mr Salako said the federal government was already addressing the 19-point demands presented by NARD, assuring that the process was ongoing and aimed at reaching an amicable resolution soon.

“I want to appeal and assure us that the 19-point demands of NARD are being taken one by one. Some are within our immediate authority, and we are addressing them,” he said.

The minister explained that other demands outside the health ministry’s mandate were being escalated to the relevant government agencies to ensure comprehensive and lasting solutions to the doctors’ grievances.

He admitted that bureaucratic processes might slow implementation but insisted the delay was not due to a lack of commitment or concern for doctors’ welfare and the overall healthcare system.

Mr Salako said talks with the NARD leadership would continue, expressing optimism that the upcoming meeting between the two parties would lead to a positive resolution and an end to the ongoing strike.

NARD members embarked on an indefinite, total, and comprehensive strike on Saturday, following the expiration of their 30-day ultimatum to the government.

The chancellor of Ekiti State University, Tunji Olowolafe, also appealed to the striking doctors to consider patients’ welfare and resume work while dialogue continued with the authorities.

“I join others in appealing to our resident doctors to please call off the strike and implore essential service officials to avoid strikes as a means of negotiation,” Mr Olowolafe said.

The doctors’ 19-point demands include payment of outstanding arrears of 25–35 per cent of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and the 2024 accoutrement allowance, among other entitlements.

Other demands include urgent infrastructure upgrades, maintenance of medical equipment nationwide, payment of promotion arrears, reversal of consultant cadres for non-medical personnel, and abolition of doctors’ casualisation.

(NAN)