Resident doctors abandon strike, to continue negotiations with FG

Resident doctors abandon strike, to continue negotiations with FG

The National Association of Resident Doctors has shelved its planned strike and will continue its negotiations with the Federal Government and other stakeholders to reach its demands.

The association’s president, Dr. Dare Ishaya, gave the assurance on Thursday in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.

According to Ishaya, the decision to drop the planned strike action was taken on Wednesday during the association’s extraordinary National Executive Council meeting.

“When we examined those issues yesterday, we discovered that the 2022 Medical Residency Training Fund had been released and the payment was effected on Tuesday.

“Most of our members have already gotten their alert, about the issue of the implementation of the new hazard allowance, we also found out that the Ministry of Finance has approved the release of funds for the payment.

“Having critically examined the situation, the NEC resolved that we should step down the ultimatum that was issued to the government and also reaffirm our commitment to continue to deliver adequate and quality health services to the Nigerian populace.”

However, he said the association’s NEC would continue the ongoing negotiations with all relevant authorities to ensure that the other unresolved issues were sorted out amicably.

“We do not want to plunge the Nigerian masses into unnecessary hardship because the hardship in the country is already enough for them so we felt that we should not add to the inflictions that the Nigerian masses are passing through.

“So the resolution of the emergency NEC meeting is that we should suspend our ultimatum and continue negotiations with the Federal Government until the other contentious issues are conclusively resolved.”

He added that a communique to that effect would soon be released.

THECONSCIENCEng reports that the association had issued several ultimatums to the Federal Government to implement the payment of the new Hazard Allowance and arrears it stipulated as of December 22, 2021.

The said allowance is contained in the circular issued by National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC) dated Dec. 22, 2021, with reference number SWC/S/04/S.218/11/406.

Other issues which warranted the planned strike include the payment of the skipping arrears for 2014, 2015, and 2016 to deserving members and consequential adjustment of the minimum wage to members who were deprived since it was implemented.

Also, the immediate review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and other related allowances is in line with the agreed terms from the previous Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

In 2021, Resident doctors embarked on strike over the unavailability of medical equipment in public tertiary hospitals and staff welfare for two months, ignoring an order from Industrial Court to call it off.