Nigerian doctors threaten another strike
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has once again threatened to strike if the Nigerian government does not meet its demands.
The association, in a letter to Health Minister Osagie Ehanire on Monday and signed by its chairman, Emeka Orji, said strike processes would begin if demands are not met before its Executive Council national (NEC) meeting scheduled for January 24.
Resident doctors are doctors who are training to become specialists/consultants. They make up the bulk of doctors in Nigeria's tertiary hospitals and when the NARD goes on strike, activities are paralyzed in these hospitals.
About six months ago, the association issued an ultimatum to the government due to ongoing, unresolved issues affecting its members, including irregularities in the new circular on the upward revision of the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF).
Doctors are asking, among other things, for the immediate implementation and payment of the new risk premium and arrears.
NARD said some arrears for 2014, 2015 and 2016 remained unpaid despite several negotiations with the government.
It also listed the non-payment of the consequential minimum wage adjustment to some of its members and delays in the upward revision of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).
Doctors also highlighted the government's inability to settle salary arrears for members of tertiary health facilities in the state, including Abia, Imo, Ondo, Ekiti and of Gombe, and the non-incorporation of the Medical Residency Training Act (MRTA) in most states of the federation.
Doctors said that while some of the claims have been addressed, many of them remain largely unresolved and have become sources of serious nationwide unrest.
“We sincerely appreciate the efforts made by the government through its ministries, departments and agencies to address some of the issues raised.
"However, many of them remain largely unresolved and have now become sources of serious national unrest threatening industrial peace and harmony in the healthcare sector."
NARD said that the main ones are "the 2020 MRTF payment omitted, irregularities in the new MRTF circular inconsistent with medical residency training law, existing collective agreements and current economic realities and the revision of the CONMESS salary structure".
industrial action
The association said it would likely launch nationwide industrial action if its demands are not met in time.
He said chaos could ensue if the government does not take action to prevent the strike from happening.
“We can confirm very clearly that if these issues are not resolved before this meeting, our members will likely give us a mandate to immediately initiate processes that will lead to national industrial disharmony in the health sector,” wrote l 'association. .
Dealing with incessant strikes
In November 2022, the Nigerian government announced its intention to review the salary structure of doctors and other health workers to avoid further industrial action.
Doctors...
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has once again threatened to strike if the Nigerian government does not meet its demands.
The association, in a letter to Health Minister Osagie Ehanire on Monday and signed by its chairman, Emeka Orji, said strike processes would begin if demands are not met before its Executive Council national (NEC) meeting scheduled for January 24.
Resident doctors are doctors who are training to become specialists/consultants. They make up the bulk of doctors in Nigeria's tertiary hospitals and when the NARD goes on strike, activities are paralyzed in these hospitals.
About six months ago, the association issued an ultimatum to the government due to ongoing, unresolved issues affecting its members, including irregularities in the new circular on the upward revision of the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF).
Doctors are asking, among other things, for the immediate implementation and payment of the new risk premium and arrears.
NARD said some arrears for 2014, 2015 and 2016 remained unpaid despite several negotiations with the government.
It also listed the non-payment of the consequential minimum wage adjustment to some of its members and delays in the upward revision of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).
Doctors also highlighted the government's inability to settle salary arrears for members of tertiary health facilities in the state, including Abia, Imo, Ondo, Ekiti and of Gombe, and the non-incorporation of the Medical Residency Training Act (MRTA) in most states of the federation.
Doctors said that while some of the claims have been addressed, many of them remain largely unresolved and have become sources of serious nationwide unrest.
“We sincerely appreciate the efforts made by the government through its ministries, departments and agencies to address some of the issues raised.
"However, many of them remain largely unresolved and have now become sources of serious national unrest threatening industrial peace and harmony in the healthcare sector."
NARD said that the main ones are "the 2020 MRTF payment omitted, irregularities in the new MRTF circular inconsistent with medical residency training law, existing collective agreements and current economic realities and the revision of the CONMESS salary structure".
industrial action
The association said it would likely launch nationwide industrial action if its demands are not met in time.
He said chaos could ensue if the government does not take action to prevent the strike from happening.
“We can confirm very clearly that if these issues are not resolved before this meeting, our members will likely give us a mandate to immediately initiate processes that will lead to national industrial disharmony in the health sector,” wrote l 'association. .
Dealing with incessant strikes
In November 2022, the Nigerian government announced its intention to review the salary structure of doctors and other health workers to avoid further industrial action.
Doctors...
What's Your Reaction?
