Nigerian doctors | File photo
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has commenced a nationwide strike following the expiration of a 24-hour ultimatum handed to the federal government.
Resident doctors are medical school graduates training as specialists. They dominate the emergency wards of hospitals in Nigeria and are crucial to healthcare delivery nationwide.
On September 1, NARD issued a 10-day ultimatum to relevant government agencies to meet its demands. That ultimatum was extended by 24 hours on September 11.
Speaking to TheCable on Thursday, Tope Osundara, NARD president, said the industrial action would commence on Friday if the government does not engage the association in productive discussions.
Advertisement
Osundara added that the demands revolve around welfare.
“It’s majorly about welfare. We also have issues of shortage of manpower in almost all healthcare centres and facilities across the nation,” he said.
NARD has now relayed that the strike has commenced nationwide as directed by its national executive council (NEC).
Advertisement
The doctors are demanding payment of the 2025 medical residency training fund (MRTF), settlement of 2024 accoutrement allowance arrears, and clearance of five months’ outstanding arrears from the 25 percent/35 percent consolidated medical salary structure review.
They are also asking the federal government to reverse the downgrade of membership certificates of the West African Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).
