- The federal government instituted a ‘no work, no pay’ policy and enrolled attendance for willing resident physicians in federal tertiary hospitals during the strike.
- NARD urges the government to address its concerns before 9 August 2023 to avoid further escalation of the situation
The Nigerian Association of Resistance Doctors (NARD) announced that they will carry out peaceful protests from Wednesday, August 9, 2023 if the Federal Government does not meet their demands.
They plan to picket the Federal Department of Health, the office of the Federation Civil Service Chief, and federal and state tertiary health facilities across the country.
NARD previously began an indefinite strike on July 26, 2023 after their two-week ultimatum to the government expired.
Their demands include implementation of one-for-one replacement policy for healthcare workers, closure of shortage of membership certificates issued by the West African Postgraduate Medical and Surgical Colleges, payment of salary arrears, consolidated medical Implementation of salary structure is included, a new risk allowance, and the domestication of the Medical Residency Training Act, among others.
Meanwhile, FG, in a circular dated August 1, 2023, had instructed the Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors at Federal Tertiary Hospitals to implement a ‘no work, no pay’ policy to striking members of NARD.
The FG also instructed the hospital to maintain an attendance register for all resident physicians willing to work.
However, in a circular dated August 5, 2023, NARD stated that it would begin a daily peaceful protest and picket line against the government to enforce its demands.
The circular said, among other things: “We would like to draw your attention to the decision of the National Executive Council of NARD to initiate daily peaceful protests and pickets at the Federal Ministry of Health, the Office of the Head of Public Service of the Federation and all federal and state tertiary healthcare facilities nationwide, effective Wednesday, August 9, 2023 by 10 a.m.
“This has become necessary to press our demands which have been largely ignored by the parent ministry and the federal government.
We are pained that instead of making genuine and concerted efforts to resolve the challenges that led to the strike despite repeated ultimatums, our parent ministry and the federal government have chosen to demonize Nigerian resident doctors instead of, after everything, their sacrifices and patriotism.
“We therefore decided that it was time for the whole world to listen to our side of the story – the corruption and corruption in the health sector, as well as the indifference that public health organizations have shown, suffered throughout the years resulting in repeated industrial actions.
“We believe that the government still has plenty of time to honestly address the issues at hand before Wednesday, August 9, 2023, otherwise it will leave us with no other choice.”
Withing Nigeria
