Resident Doctors Extend Ultimatum to FG by Two Weeks

•Insists on 200% salary increase

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has extended the strike ultimatum issued to the federal government by another two weeks.

NARD insisted on the immediate implementation of a minimum of 200 per cent increment in the CONMESS salary structure and an upward review of associated allowances.

The association is insisting that the government should address all its six point demands, failing which it would no longer guarantee industrial harmony in the health sector nationwide.

In the communique issued at the end of the extra-ordinary National Executive Council (E-NEC) meeting of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), held virtually yesterday, the doctors resolved, “to further extend her already expired ultimatum issued to the government by two weeks with effect from Wednesday July 5, 2023.”

It said the meeting held virtually was to appraise the level of implementation of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with government on May 19, 2023, following the five-day warning strike embarked upon by the association on the 17th of May 2023.

The communiqué jointly signed by NARD President, Dr. Orji Emeka, General Secretary, Dr. Chikezie Kelechi and Publicity/ Social Secretary, Dr. Umar Musa, warned that if at the expiration of the further extended ultimatum

by July 19, 2023, all the demands of the doctors were not met, NARD cannot guarantee industrial harmony in the health sector nationwide.

Among the demands of the doctors were the immediate payment of the 2023 MRTF as contained in the approved 2023 budget in line with various agreements reached with the government.

The agreement was that the government should without further delay pay all outstanding arrears owed members including the hazard allowance and the skipping arrears of 2014-2016, and the arrears of consequential adjustment of minimum

Wage, saying there was no justifiable reason to keep owing the arrears and allowances.

The doctors also demanded the immediate release and the implementation of the guidelines on one-for-one replacement of clinical staff to cushion the effect of the massive manpower shortage in our various hospitals nationwide.

NARD also asked the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to discontinue the downgrading of the membership certificate issued by the West African Postgraduate Medical and Surgical colleges.

NARD further demanded the immediate payment of all salary arrears, the implementation of the CONMESS salary structure and new hazard allowance and domestication of the Medical Residency Training Act and payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund to our members in the State Tertiary Health Institutions nationwide.

The NEC of NARD further insisted on the immediate implementation of minimum of 200 per cent increment in the CONMESS salary structure and upward review of the associated allowances as requested in her previous letters on the subject matter, adding that the current economic realities in the country cannot justify the continued payment of CONMESS as it is at the moment.

NARD said it, “has observed with shock, the continued deplorable conditions of our members in the State Tertiary Health Institutions including Abia state, Imo state, Benue state, Nassarawa state, Kwara state, Bayelsa state, Ogun state and Federal Capital Territory (FCT).”