Resident doctors begin indefinite strike amid Nigeria’s health crisis
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has embarked on an indefinite strike.
NARD’s national president Innocent Orji disclosed this via a WhatsApp message late Tuesday.
According to him, the major demands of the resident doctors are immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), immediate release of the circular on one-for-one replacement and payment of skipping arrears.
Others are an upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) in line with full salary restoration to the 2014 value of CONMESS and payment of arrears of the consequential adjustment of the minimum wage to omitted doctors.
The resident doctors are also demanding the reversal of the downgrading of the membership certificate by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).
In a communique on July 5 after its virtual Extraordinary National Executive Council Meeting (E-NEC), the resident doctors issued a fresh notice to the federal government to meet its demands within two weeks or risk industrial disharmony in the health sector.
The communique was signed jointly by NARD’s president, secretary general, Chikezie Kelechi and the publicity and social secretary, Umar Musa.
The resident doctors embarked on a five-day warning strike on May 17, urging the government to address its concerns before May 29 to avoid industrial disharmony.
The industrial action was embarked upon after the two-week ultimatum issued on April 29 expired on May 13. The resident doctors suspended the strike on May 21.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, had on Monday urged the resident doctors to suspend the impending strike during a meeting between the leadership of the House and NARD in Abuja.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Anti-Corruption
Bribery for appointment, budget racketeering prevalent under Tinubu, others: Senator Ojudu
Mr Ojudu said an independent probe of the Appropriations and Public Accounts Committees in the National Assembly would open a can of worms and unearth.
States
Police say two kidnap victims rescued in Katsina
The police command in Katsina has foiled separate kidnapping and cattle rustling attempts in Kankia and Charanchi council areas, rescuing two kidnapped women unharmed.
Showbiz
CBAAC, Swiss archive partner to preserve Africa’s film heritage
CBAAC has signed a partnership with the Cinémathèque Suisse (Swiss National Film Archive) to preserve and digitise Africa’s audiovisual heritage.
Health
Yobe govt approves enrolment of retirees in health insurance scheme
The Yobe government has approved the enrolment of state and local government retirees into its health insurance scheme.
Education
Niger govt bans graduation ceremonies in private schools
The Niger Private Schools Board has discontinued graduation ceremonies in all private schools with immediate effect.
Abuja
Court sentences notorious bandit’s ally to 20 years’ imprisonment
The court convicted Muhammad Sani, arrested and prosecuted by SSS, for concealing information that could have led to the arrest of a notorious bandit.
