The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently implement their demand for a 200 per cent salary increase.
They have also demanded that President Tinubu declares a state of emergency in the health sector to address the vexing situation of brain drain in the country.
The association also noted with shock the recent increase in the price of petroleum products owing to the removal of subsidy. While stressing that the situation could lead to increased inflation rate and cost of living, the NARD called on the government to urgently put measures in place (palliatives) to cushion the effect of subsidy removal on poor Nigerians.
The doctors’ association made this known in a statement after its ordinary general meeting (OGM) which was held in Lagos State between May 28 to June 3, 2023.
The statement, which was signed by the President of NARD, Dr. Emeka Orji, also noted the non-payment of salary arrears by some state governments.
It said, “We call on the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to as a matter of urgency declare a state of emergency in the Nigerian health sector as the era of paying lip service to the monster called ‘brain drain’ should be over.
“We urge the government to set up a high powered panel to review and harmonize the reports from the former President Obasanjo Health Agenda for Nigeria committee and the former Vice President Osinbajo-led health sector reform committee, in order to generate a plan of action in the health sector for the President Tinubu-led administration.
“The OGM observed the rate of implementation of the agreements reached with the government as contained in the Memorandum of Understanding signed on the 19th of May 2023, noting that the rate could be better. OGM also reiterated her rejection of the 35 per cent/25 per cent increment in CONMESS salary structure and upheld her insistence on at least 200 per cent increment with the additional allowances as contained in our letter to the Federal government of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Health on the 7th of July 2022.
“The OGM observed with dismay, that some of our members in different Federal Tertiary Hospitals are yet be paid the arrears of the hazard allowance.
“The OGM observed with shock the casualization of Medical Doctors in the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu and some other hospitals. OGM condemned this in totality.
“We insist on the demand for at least 200 per cent increment in the CONMESS salary structure and the associated allowances as contained in our letter to the government dated 7th July 2022. We have resolved to give the new government some time to quickly resolve this issue which is at the root of the current spate of massive brain drain in the sector.”
It added, “The OGM observed the non-payment of promotion arrears since 2018 and 13 months hazard arrears allowance owed our members by the Federal Capital Territory Administration. OGM described this as terribly wrong and unacceptable.
‘The OGM observed the situation in UTH Ogbomoso in Oyo state, where our members are not being paid Medical Residency Training Fund, and the hazard allowance has still remained a paltry Five Thousand Naira. OGM observed that this has discouraged many from accepting employment in the hospital which is bordered by three Federal Teaching Hospitals, thereby worsening the manpower challenge of the hospital.
“The OGM condemned the deplorable state of things at the General Hospital Ilorin where the severe manpower shortage owing to very poor remuneration has worsened the burnout syndrome among our members. OGM was shocked that doctors were not paid with the full CONMESS salary structure, not being skipped, and allowances like hazard allowance, medical residency training fund and even the yearly increment in salary are not implemented in Kwara State.
“OGM further observed with pain that there are no house officers in the hospital, people are rejecting job offers in the hospital and the state Governor has refused to see reasons to look into this situation. OGM also observed that the Kwara state Governor, Abdurahman Abdulrasaq is now the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors ‘ Forum, and thinks that Kwara state should lead the way in good governance.
“The OGM observed that up till now, our members at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) are not being paid the Medical Residency Training Fund, not being paid with the CONMESS salary structure and not being skipped. They are also still being paid the paltry sum of Five Thousand Naira as hazard allowance.
“The OGM observed the abysmal state of the health sector in Abia state where health care services in the state have been practically shut down.
“We call on Governors Adedapo Abiodun of Ogun State, Alex Otti of Abia state, Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers state, Seyi Makinde of Oyo state, Abdurahman Abdulrasaq of Kwara state and the FCTA Administration to urgently look into the situation in the health sector in their states since these are capable of breaking down the industrial peace in their states.
“We call on the management of LASUTH and the Lagos State Governor to discontinue the demand for bench fees as this contravenes the decision of the National Council on Establishment to abolish the fees.
“We call on the West African Colleges of Surgeons and Physicians to immediately discontinue the practice of charging our members using parallel market exchange rates.
“We call on the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to stop the downgrading of the membership certificate as this is not the practice in sister African Countries that share the same certificate.”