The ongoing strike by resident doctors in Nigeria has entered a critical phase as tensions escalate between the government and the striking healthcare professionals.
In an effort to push for their demands, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued a notice of nationwide mass protests and picketing, scheduled to begin on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, at 10:00 am. The decision comes in response to the government’s directive to implement the “no work no pay” policy against the striking resident doctors.
NARD will lead peaceful protests at the Federal Ministry of Health, the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, and all federal and state tertiary health institutions.
In a letter addressed to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health, Engr. Adebiyi Olufunso, Dr. Orji Emeka Innocent, President of NARD, expressed strong disapproval, accusing the government of neglecting their responsibilities and instead choosing to demonize the doctors for their legitimate demands.
Dr. Orji stated, “We are pained that rather than make genuine and concerted efforts to resolve the challenges that led to the industrial action despite repeated ultimatums, our parent ministry and the federal government have chosen to demonize Nigerian resident doctors instead, after all their sacrifices and patriotism.”
“We therefore resolved that it is time the whole world hears our side of the story – the decay and corruption in the health sector as well as the neglect the public health institutions have suffered all these years that led to repeated industrial actions.”
“We believe that the government still has time to genuinely address the issues at stake before Wednesday, 9th August 2023, or leave us with no other option.”
Lafiya360 reports that on August 1, 2023, the Federal Ministry of Health, through its Director of Hospital Services, Dr Andrew Noah, directed Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors in the Federal Tertiary Hospitals to invoke a ‘no work, no pay’ policy against striking members of NARD.
It also directed the hospitals to maintain an attendance register for all resident doctors willing to work.
The NARD had begun its nationwide indefinite strike on July 26, 2023, after the Federal Government failed to meet its demands.
Its demands are: Review of their Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), issuance of a circular by the Federal Ministry of Health for replacement of doctors and nurses that have left the system with new ones, and the payment of salary arrears, improvement in hazard allowance by state governments, among others.