The National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria, NARD has asked its members to begin a three-day warning strike starting from Monday, June 2.
The resident doctors are irked by the federal government’s alleged refusal to meet some of their welfare demand.
Jubril Abdullahi, NARD President, said the warning strike was necessary so as to remind government on the need to fulfill all agreements reached concerning the welfare of their members.
NARD accused the Federal Ministry of Health under the supervision of Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu of insensitivity and lack of commitment to the plight of resident doctors in Nigeria.
The Resident Doctors are demanding full implementation of the payment of their outstanding salaries and allowances. Abdullahi disclosed that the grievances of the resident doctors include the issues of relativity in salary between doctors and other health workers as well as skipping of Grade Level 12.
The doctors further argued that there was need for the Federal Ministry of Health to adopt world standard and best practices in terms of salary structure.
He warned that if the government failed to implement their demands, the doctors would embark on an indefinite strike action from July 1. Among the demands of NARD include full payment of salaries of their members in Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Imo State.
“We are dismayed by the fact that the payment was only for September salaries of Resident Doctors and one month rather than two for the out gone House Officers. Similarly, the current batches of House Officers in the same institution were just paid two months’ salary rather than three months as was done to the interns of other professions that came in together with them. Moreover, no explanation was given for this aberration. In a nutshell, two out of three months’ payment was made and another one month withheld,” Abdullahi stated.
He further added that the Federal Ministry of Health had shown lack of commitment towards the resolution of the current impasse. “After exhaustive deliberations with Local Chapter Presidents and other stakeholders, NARD hereby rejects what the Government offers regarding these issues,” Abdullahi said.
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