The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has said that if the Federal Government does not satisfy its demands by July 19, 2023, it will go on indefinite strike. Dr Emeka Orji, the President of NARD, said this in an exclusive chat with The Punch on Sunday.
Recently, the group NARD issued a new two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government last Wednesday to begin implementing all pending agreements with the association when it embarked on a five-day warning strike from May 17 to 21, 2023.
The group and the government had signed a Memorandum of Understanding to address the problems presented by the resident doctors.
The doctors are requesting, among other things, that the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria stop downgrading membership certificates given out by West African Postgraduate Medical and Surgical colleges, pay all outstanding salaries immediately, implement the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, implement a new hazard allowance, and domesticate the Medical Residency Training Act.
Orji, however, said that the government had not yet invited the organization to a meeting to discuss the agreements and other requests while speaking with our reporter.
He stated:
“Our members are saying that there will be an indefinite strike if the government fails to meet our demands. The government has not called us for a meeting regarding our demands, and what we need now is not even a meeting but for them to implement the agreement they had with us, especially the ones with the timelines. Most of the things we are asking can be implemented in a day or two.”
“The Federal Government has just about nine days to prevent this avoidable indefinite shutdown of healthcare services in this country,” Orji tacked on.
cc: Punch Ng
