The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors said on Saturday that if the Federal Government does not accept its requests, it would begin peaceful demonstrations on Wednesday, August 9, 2023.
NARD also stated that it will picket the Federal Ministry of Health, the Office of the Federation’s Head of Civil Service, and federal and state tertiary health facilities around the nation.
The group announced this in a circular written to Olufunso Adebiyi, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health.
Dr Emeka Orji, President of the Association, and Dr Kelechi Chikezie, Secretary General of the Association, signed the circular.
On July 26, 2023, NARD went on indefinite strike after the government failed to accept its demands within a two-week deadline.
The doctors are calling for the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to stop downgrading membership certificates issued by West African Postgraduate Medical and Surgical Colleges, as well as the immediate payment of all salary arrears, the implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, a new hazard allowance, and the domestication of the Medical Residency Training Act.
Meanwhile, in a circular dated August 1, 2023, the FG authorised the Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of Federal Tertiary Hospitals to impose the ‘no work, no pay’ policy on NARD strikers.
The FG also ordered hospitals to keep a record of all resident doctors who are eager to work.
NARD, on the other hand, stated in a circular dated August 5, 2023, that it will engage in daily peaceful protests and picketing of the government in order to press its demands.
The circular stated, in part:
“We wish to bring to your notice, the decision of the National Executive Council of NARD to embark on a daily peaceful protests and picketing of the Federal Ministry of Health, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, as well as all federal and state tertiary health institutions nationwide, with effect from Wednesday, August 9, 2023 by 10am.
“This has become necessary to press home our demands which have been largely neglected by our parent ministry and the Federal Government.
“We are pained that rather than make genuine and concerted efforts to resolve the challenges that led to the industrial action despite repeated ultimatums, our parent ministry and the Federal Government have chosen to demonise Nigerian resident doctors instead, after all, their sacrifices and patriotism.
“We therefore resolved that it is time the whole world hears our side of the story – the decay and corruption in the health sector, as well as the neglect the public health institutions have suffered all these years that led to repeated industrial actions.
“We believe that the government still has time to genuinely address the issues at stake before Wednesday, 9th August 2023, or leave us with no other option.”
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