The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced that it has placed a two-week moratorium on the strike action it was about to commence. The association made this known in a communique that was sent out after the National Executive Council meeting that held at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Kwara State. The statement which was signed by the President of the Association, Dr. Godiya Ishaya, Secretary General Dr. Abiodun Isma’il, and Public/Social Secretary, Dr. Alfa Yusuf reads: “The E-NEC resolves to further extend their ultimatum by another two (2) weeks after observing the Federal Government’s effort as a show of goodwill from NARD. This we believe will give the Federal Government adequate time to substantiate their efforts with results which will avert industrial disharmony.”
The association’s demands are immediate execution and payment of the hazard allowance, payment of the recently reviewed Medical Residency Training Fund, and arrears to mention a few. At the Extraordinary National Executive Council (E-NEC) meeting, the association also demanded that the 2022 MRTF payment should be done using the existing template while the new template should be incorporated into 2023 budget and paid as arrears to the members.
Other resolutions of the E-NEC are: “The E-NEC calls on all well-meaning Nigerians to intervene in the terrible and deplorable conditions of our members in the affected STHIs. The E-NEC resolves to further extend our ultimatum by another two (2) weeks after observing the Federal Government’s effort as a show of goodwill from NARD. This we believe will give the Federal Government adequate time to substantiate their efforts with results which will avert industrial disharmony.
“The E-NEC also decried the worsening spate of brain drain in our health care system leading to a perpetual shortage of manpower with attendant burnout. This deplorable situation has led to the shutdown of the Federal Medical Center, Owo on Friday, 19th of August 2022 as a consequence of the immense manpower shortage in the centre. The E-NEC observed with great concern that despite our two (2) weeks ultimatum, the conditions of our members in various State Government hospitals namely Abia, Ekiti, Imo and Ondo have remained unchanged, where members are owed 24, 13, 10, and 5 months salary arrears respectively,” the communique reads in part.
