The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) reiterated its resolve on Wednesday to embark on a nationwide strike on September 10 if the Federal Government and its relevant agencies fail to meet its demands.
Dr. Tope Osundara, President of NARD, stated in an exclusive interview with our correspondent that the association met with the Federal Government on Monday but did not reach a positive outcome.
Earlier this week, NARD issued a 10-day ultimatum to the relevant government agencies, warning that if their demands were not met, its members would strike.
The doctors criticized the Federal Government for failing to fulfill its promises, including unpaid resident doctors for the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund, refusal to pay five months’ salary arrears from the 25%/35 percent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure review, and arrears of the 2024 Accoutrement Allowance.
Around three weeks ago, the Federal Government established the Committee on Collective Bargaining for the Health Sector, signifying the start of negotiations with key unions and groups in accordance with Articles 1 and 2 of the rules for collective bargaining agreement machinery.
The negotiations are expected to include salary, working conditions, professional development, and health-care worker well-being.
The committee was formed after the Nigerian Medical Association and NARD issued a strike ultimatum in July, and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives called off a nationwide warning strike.
Osundara, on the other hand, remarked that despite the committee’s formation, no substantive response to the doctors’ demands had been received.
The NARD president noted, “The 10-day ultimatum is still counting. Unfortunately, there has not been a positive response from the government. There is no positive response at all. So, as it stands, my people are angry, and I only hope that there won’t be a breakdown in our healthcare system. After the 10 days of the ultimatum, we cannot guarantee industrial harmony, as we’ve extended a hand of friendship and tried to reason with them.
“So, what it means is that if my people cannot register for exams, the government has automatically extended their residency training. So, they will automatically lose one year, and it is also not even good for the government because if you lose one year, the government will still have to fund this training the following year and pay for this year again. So, it is more or less like the government is the one that is losing. Because if you pay the money on time, people can register for the exams, they can go about their businesses, and it will also improve academic excellence.
“As of now, there are other remuneration matters that the government has not attended to. They have not done anything aside from the two-month arrears out of the seven months that were paid, and they didn’t pay the accurate amount. So, it’s up to them to find a solution to all of these things.”
He also explained that over 2,000 doctors are yet to receive the Medical Residency Training Fund, with the registration window set to close on Friday, September 5.
“Over 2,000 doctors across every region are yet to receive the MRFT. The government paid some people and didn’t pay others. Those people who were not paid are really agitated, and the deadline is this Friday.
“Many doctors at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, and many more are yet to receive the training fund,” he lamented.
Meanwhile, the Association of Resident Doctors at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, has been on strike since July 29.
Similarly, ARD members in Kaduna State started an indefinite strike on September 1 to pursue their demands.
