National association of resident doctors give FG 2-week ultimatum
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has threatened to shut down the health sector if its demands are not met by the federal government within two weeks.
The Nigerian Association for Resident Doctors (NARD) is demanding the immediate withdrawal and rescinding of a bill that would prevent Nigerian medical doctors from receiving full practising licences or from travelling abroad for five years, as well as a 200 percent salary increase for doctors.
Read Also: Organ Harvest: I Thought I Was Being Scammed By Doctors – Ekweremadu Tells UK Court
On Saturday, the president of the NARD, Dr. Emeka Innocent, issued the warning while reading the communique issued at the conclusion of the association’s Extraordinary National Executive Council Meeting in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Innocent stated, “despite numerous discussions with FG on the need to increase the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, CONMESS, which was last reviewed more than ten years ago.
“The government has not invited NARD to the negotiating table nor has it taken any action to address the issue.The government had previously received ultimatums regarding the salary structure review.
In addition to lamenting the government’s refusal to pay salary arrears for 2014, 2015, and 2016, as well as the arrears of the consequential adjustment of minimum wage, Innocent pointed out that many state governors have yet to implement the appropriate CONMESS structure, domesticate the medical residency training act, MRTA, or improve the hazard allowance paid to NARD members.
Also Read: Peter Obi praises Buhari for the postponement of 2023 Census
“In the nine-point resolutions, the body demanded a “immediate increase in the CONMESS salary structure to the tune of 200 percent of the current gross salary of doctors, in addition to the new allowances included in the letter written by NARD to the Honourable Minister of Health on July 7, 2022 for the review of CONMESS.”
Other demands include the immediate massive recruitment of clinical staff, the commencement of payment of all salary arrears owed to our members, including 2014, 2015, and 2016 salary arrears, and areas of consequential minimum wage adjustment.
According to him, the two-week deadline begins on Saturday, April 29th, 2023, to resolve all of these demands, after which, on May 13th, we may not be able to guarantee nationwide industrial harmony in the sector.
Thanks for using our platform to learn about the latest Naija News on Strike looms as resident doctors give FG 2-week ultimatum
