The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has set the release of the circular for one-for-one clinical staff replacement and payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund as minimal criteria for calling off its indefinite strike, which began on July 26.
Dr. Emeka Orji, National President of NARD, said this in a chat with our correspondent on Wednesday.
Despite the suspension of the planned statewide demonstration, Orji stated that the organisation was allowing the Federal Government 72 hours to satisfy some of its critical requests before calling off the strike.
According to him, the union will determine whether to prolong or end the strike by Friday, August 12.
The striking doctors had previously intended to launch a daily peaceful demonstration on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, if the government did not satisfy their requests.
“We had a fruitful meeting yesterday (Tuesday) at the Villa and with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, so having that level of meeting and then hitting the streets to protest will look as if there is an ulterior motive behind our demands,” Orji added.
“Our demands are important because there aren’t enough doctors in our hospitals, so the few of us who are left are overworked.” How much longer can we carry on like this? They’ve informed us what they’ll do today (Wednesday) and tomorrow (Thursday), and we’re hoping they’ll follow through. If they can achieve those things, I am confident that the National Executive Committee will give us the go-ahead to halt the strike because we are extremely understanding.
“The first is the circular for one-for-one replacement, and the second is the 2023 MRTF fund.” If they are able to address them, we will ask our members to postpone the strike while we continue to negotiate for all wage arrears, missed pay, and other issues.”
According to Orji, the government should have no trouble implementing the one-for-one replacement without incurring additional costs.
“The government has a list of those who have left, and it is a matter of replacing them as soon as possible, with the new ones being paid the salary you have budgeted to replace those who have left.” As a result, it is not difficult to accomplish. This has been agreed upon since February, but nothing has been done, but we are hopeful that the administration will follow through,” he continued.
