Resident Doctors to Embark on Nationwide Protest on Wednesday

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) yesterday announced plans to embark on daily peaceful protests and picketing of the Federal Ministry of Health, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, as well as all federal and state tertiary health institutions nationwide.

NARD in a notice after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, jointly signed by the National President, Dr. Emeka Orji and the Secretary, Dr. Chikezie Kelechi, said the mass action will take effect from Wednesday, August 9, 2023.

The statement noted that the action has become necessary to press home the doctors’ demands, which according to them, have been largely neglected by their parent ministry and the federal government.

“We are pained that rather than make genuine and concerted efforts to resolve the challenges that led to the industrial action despite repeated ultimatums, our parent ministry and the federal government have chosen to demonise Nigerian resident doctors instead, after all, their sacrifices and patriotism.

“We, therefore, resolved that it is time the whole world hears our side of the story – the decay and corruption in the health sector as well as the neglect the public health institutions have suffered all these years that led to repeated industrial actions.

“We believe that the government still has time to genuinely address the issues at stake before Wednesday, August 9, 2023, or leave us with no other option,” the statement explained.

The federal government had three days ago slammed a ‘No work, No pay policy’ against the striking resident doctors.