Resident Doctors threatens industrial strike action over unmet demands

The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has given the federal government a two-week ultimatum to implement agreements concerning their demands or face industrial action.

The resident doctors made the announcement in a communique issued on Saturday at the end of their Extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

During the meeting which lasted from Thursday to Saturday, the doctors discussed issues affecting their welfare, including the alarming rate of flight of doctors and other healthcare workers due to poor remuneration, grossly inadequate funding of the health sector, and the negative effect on citizens and health workers.

The doctors are demanding an immediate 200% increment in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) in addition to the new allowances included in a letter written by the association to the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, on July 7, 2022, requesting a review of CONMESS.

The doctors’ demands have been a recurring issue for years, and the government has failed to meet them despite several promises. The doctors’ ultimatum comes amid increasing concerns about the state of the Nigerian healthcare system.

More details coming soon…