In a remarkable turn of events, the resident doctors, united under the banner of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), have officially halted their indefinite strike that began on July 26th.
The National President of the association, Dr. Innocent Orji, made this announcement in an unconventional manner, sending a message through WhatsApp to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja. He expressed that they would reassess the situation in a mere two weeks.
Effective 8 a.m. tomorrow, which falls on Saturday, August 12th, the doctors are set to resume their duties. This decision arrives following persistent interventions from various stakeholders, urging the association to avoid the industrial action or bring it to an earlier suspension.
Key among these pleas was the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, who, on July 24th, implored the resident doctors to put the strike on hold. This call transpired during a significant meeting between the House’s leadership and NARD in Abuja. Rep. Abbas acknowledged the new administration’s early days and its ongoing process of settling in, with ministers yet to take office.
In addition to the suspension of the strike, NARD had initially planned to stage protests and picket tertiary health institutions and the Federal Ministry of Health. However, these planned demonstrations have been shelved following interventions from the Presidency and the Senate President.
The core demands that initially fueled the strike included the immediate release of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), the swift issuance of the circular on one-for-one replacement, and the resolution of outstanding issues such as skipping arrears. The association also sought an upward revision of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) to bring it back to its 2014 value, along with the payment of consequential adjustment arrears tied to the minimum wage.
Furthermore, the association highlighted the importance of reversing the downgrading of the membership certificate by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN). Their extensive list of demands also encompassed the need for new hazard allowances, proper implementation of corrected CONMESS in state tertiary health institutions, and the settlement of omitted hazard allowance arrears.
This decisive step by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors marks a significant development, setting the stage for further negotiations and a potential transformation of the medical sector in Nigeria.
