The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) is poised to engage in discussions with the federal government today amidst the ongoing strike and the looming prospect of a nationwide protest.
Emeka Orji, the President of NARD, addressed the media on Tuesday, highlighting that the outcome of the meeting will determine whether the doctors will proceed with their planned protest.
Orji stated, “I cannot mention the federal government representatives we will be meeting with for now. But we will disclose our next move after the meeting, maybe in the next four to five hours.”
The association initiated an indefinite strike on July 26, citing the government’s failure to fulfill the demands of its members as the reason for the action.
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Among the demands put forth by the resident doctors are the disbursement of the 2023 medical residency training fund (MRTF), immediate issuance of the circular on one-for-one replacement, and an upward revision of the consolidated medical salary structure (CONMESS).
Additionally, the doctors have called for the settlement of outstanding arrears related to consequential adjustment, hazard, and skipping allowance.
NARD had previously announced plans for peaceful nationwide protests starting from Wednesday, August 9. These protests are expected to involve picketing at the federal ministry of health, the office of the head of the civil service of the federation, and federal and state tertiary health institutions across the nation.
The NARD president, speaking on Channels Television last Sunday, clarified that the decision to begin protests on Wednesday was made to allow ample time for the federal government to intervene.
He stated, “We had options of starting these protests on Monday but we shifted it to give the federal government enough time to intervene.”