From Monday August 2, Nigerian doctors under the umbrella body of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) will commence an indefinite nationwide strike. This action, the association said, is as a result of the expiration of a 113-day ultimatum that was issued to governments at the state and federal levels, to address the issues of welfare, training and service delivery by resident doctors.
Addressing journalists on Saturday, NARD President, Dr Okhuaihesuyi Uyilawa, said the decision to embark on strike was part of the resolutions reached at NARD’s 2021 National Executive Council (NEC) in Umuahia, Abia state.
According to NARD, the Nigerian government has been insincere in the implementation of the promises made to resident doctors in Nigeria via the Memorandum of Actions signed by government officials and NARD leadership.
In addition to this, NARD’s national NEC also demanded the withdrawal of a circular issued by the Head of Service of the Federation announcing the removal of house officers from the scheme of service .
“We can only discharge our responsibilities to Nigerians when our lives and welfare are given desired attention,” NARD stated.
The association’s president confirmed that during the strike action, medical services in public health institutions across Nigeria will be shut down, adding that the government needs to be sincere and responsive to NARD’s demands for better conditions of service and workplace infrastructure. According to NARD, its members employed by the governments of Abia, Imo, Ondo and Ado Ekiti were being owed salaries for 19, 7, 4 and 2 months, respectively.