Resident doctors threaten strike over salary delay, others

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has threatened to disrupt industrial harmony should the Federal Government refuse to accede to its demands.

The organisation said it would take the decision to proceed on strike in its meeting scheduled for today (Tuesday).

NARD issued the threat in a communique on Monday after an extraordinary National Executive Council zoom meeting on Saturday.

The communique was signed by NARD President, Dr Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi; Secretary-General, Dr Jerry Isogun and Public Social Secretary, Dr Dotun Oshikoya.

According to the communique, NEC deliberated on the unjust delay of members (House officers and some resident doctors) on the GIFMIS platform for over three months.

Others were the non-payment of minimum wage and other salary arrears “to our members nationwide; non-implementation of the 50 per cent of consolidated basic salary as hazard allowance for all health care workers and non-payment of the Medical Residency Funding for 2019, 2020, and 2021.”

NARD said, “All clinical health workers should be considered for COVID – 19 vaccination and the other issues affecting efficient health care delivery in the face of the COVID–19 pandemic including adequate provision of PPEs be addressed.

“We wish to remind you that some of these issues have lingered on for so long and had culminated in a nationwide industrial action on 14th September 2020 which was later suspended to give room for further negotiations and possible settlement.

“In furtherance to the above, the NEC unanimously resolved to proceed on a recess to reappraise the outcomes of the meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 9 2021, following which industrial harmony cannot be guaranteed if the above demands are not acceded to.”