The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has suspended its purported plan to embark on strike over unresolved issues with the Federal Government.
The association had threatened to embark on a nationwide strike over the failure of the Federal Government to implement agreements reached with the association in 2020.
NARD President, Dr. Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi, said the association shelved the planned strike because the government has commenced payment to House Officers and some resident doctors on the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System platform for over three months.
“With the intervention of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila who set up a committee chaired by the Chairman, House Committee on Healthcare Services, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Healthcare Services, doctors who are owed salaries are being paid.
“So, we are shelving the strike for now. Already, 19 centres that have submitted their list have been paid and hopefully today (Friday), the other centres will be paid,” Okhuaihesuyi said.
Recall that the doctors had embarked on industrial action on September 7, 2020, over the government’s inability to meet their demands, including insurance package, payment of the outstanding COVID-19 allowances, as well as the payment of medical residency training fund.
Other demands of the doctors include the immediate payment of the Medical Residency Fund for 2021 with the arrears of 2019 and 2020 inclusive.
“That all training institutions be directed to stop the collection of Bench fee from our members since it was not captured in the Residency Training Fund as approved. That the Federal Government meet with immediate effect, all the agreements in the Memorandum of Terms of Settlement signed on 21st of April, 2020.
“That all clinical health workers be considered for COVID-19 vaccination and the other issues affecting efficient health care delivery in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic including adequate provision of PPEs be addressed,” they noted.
