Resident Doctors Suspend Nationwide Strike

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

Striking resident doctors have suspended their action.

President of the Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Dr. Emeka Orji, said in a message after their emergency meeting that the doctors decided to suspend the strike and to meet again in two weeks to review progress made by the federal government to address their demands.

Orji said, “We just suspended the strike. Work to resume 8a.m. tomorrow. We will review progress made in two weeks.

“The association decided to suspend the strike because of the moves by the federal government to address our demands. 

“We also observed that the federal government has approved the  2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF),  and has started work on the circular on one-for-one replacement.

“The circular on one-for-one replacement is a very important demand because we believe it would address the severe manpower shortage.

“But from what we have seen, it would take another two weeks for government to finalise it.

“We had another meeting this evening (yesterday) and our members concluded that rather than waiting for two weeks for the circular we should suspend the strike especially as we have seen that government has started addressing some of the issues.”

The resident doctors had commenced indefinite strike on July 17 to protest alleged delay by government to look into their demands for improved welfare package, payment of 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) and minimum wage adjustment arrears.