If the Federal Government does not fulfill its obligations by July 19, 2023, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has stated that it will initiate an indefinite strike. Dr. Emeka Orji, the President of NARD, revealed this information during an exclusive interview on Sunday.
NARD had previously given the Federal Government a two-week ultimatum starting from last Wednesday to begin implementing the agreements made with the association after their five-day warning strike from May 17 to 21, 2023. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the association and the government to address the concerns raised by the resident doctors.
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The doctors are requesting the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to stop downgrading the membership certificate issued by the West African Postgraduate Medical and Surgical colleges. They are also demanding immediate payment of all salary arrears, implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, new hazard allowance, and adoption of the Medical Residency Training Act, among other demands.
However, during the interview with our correspondent, Orji mentioned that the government has not yet invited the association for a meeting to discuss the agreements and other demands. He stated that if the government fails to meet their demands, the doctors will initiate an indefinite strike.
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Orji emphasized that what they need is not just a meeting but for the government to implement the agreement they had previously made, especially the ones with specified timelines. He added that most of the requested actions can be implemented within a day or two.
Orji further warned that the Federal Government has approximately nine days left to prevent the unnecessary and prolonged shutdown of healthcare services in the country.
