Resident doctors in Nigeria have shut down hospitals nationwide due to unpaid salaries, allowances, and other demands.
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) commenced a warning strike to press their demands, including
• Unpaid Salaries and Allowances: Resident doctors have not received salaries for up to six months, with some owed 13 months of hazard allowance arrears.
• Poor Working Conditions: Hospitals lack basic amenities like water, equipment, and medications, making it difficult for doctors to provide quality care.
• Manpower Shortage: The country faces a significant shortage of doctors, leading to burnout and stress among resident doctors.
• Medical Residency Training Fund:The association demands timely payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) to support resident doctors’ professional development.
“The Federal Government called us yesterday and promised to address our concerns.We had our meeting and after a six-hour deliberation decided to give the government next 24 hours to ensure disbursements of MRTF to beneficiaries, for MDCN to upgrade our membership certificates and attend to our other demands If nothing happens before the end of today (Thursday, September 11) we will commence the strike immediately tomorrow (Friday, September 12). NARD President Dr Tope Osundare said.
On Friday (September 12) morning Tope Osundare confirmed that the strike had kick off. “Unfortunately, the minimum demands were not met within the given 24-hour period, and the strike commenced this morning as directed by the NEC of the association,” he stated. “We will review after the Federal Government has done the needful.” he added.
The strike affects government hospitals across the country, with NARD vowing to continue the strike until their demands are met.
The Federal Government has threatened to invoke the “no work, no pay” policy, but the doctors remain resolute.
