The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced the cancellation of its planned nationwide protest that was slated to occur on Wednesday, August 9, 2023.
This decision comes after a closed-door meeting between the National President of the association, Dr Emeka Innocent Orji, and Senate President Godswill Akpabio, along with other Principal Officers of the Senate at the National Assembly in Abuja.
The resident doctors also indicated that they might soon put an end to their ongoing strike.
The National President of the association, Dr Emeka Innocent Orji, disclosed this Tuesday while briefing newsmen after meeting behind a closed door with Senate President Godswill Akpabio and other Principal Officers of the Senate at the National Assembly, Abuja.
NARD, on Saturday, declared its intention to carry out peaceful protests, aiming to target the Federal Ministry of Health, the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, and various federal and state tertiary health institutions across the country.
The association had commenced an indefinite strike on July 26, 2023, following the lapse of a two-week ultimatum it had issued to the government, urging them to address its demands.
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The doctors are demanding the implementation of the one-for-one replacement policy for healthcare workers; 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; the immediate payment of all salary arrears; the implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure; a new hazard allowance; and the domestication of the Medical Residency Training Act; among others.
Speaking after a meeting with Senate leadership, Dr Orji said, “From our discussions, we are very hopeful that when we table our discussions before the NEC, something positive would come out.
“From our interaction with the President of the Senate and the practical demonstration he did before us today, we are very confident that there would be light at the end of the tunnel in the next 24 hours.
“Because of the intervention of the President of the Senate, who is the number three citizen and the assurance he has given us, our planned national protest has been cancelled while the decision on the ongoing strike would be taken as soon as we meet.”
Akpabio thanked the medical doctors for honouring the Senate by calling off their planned national protest and also working towards calling off the strike.