Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced an indefinite nationwide strike, commencing at 12 midnight on Tuesday, as declared by Dr. Orji Emeka Innocent, the President of the association, during the National Executive Council meeting held in Lagos.
Dr. Innocent stated that the major demands of the association include the immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), the release of the circular on one-for-one replacement, payment of skipping arrears, and an upward review of CONMESS to restore salaries to the 2014 value.
The association had previously expressed its frustration with the government’s slow response to their demands, despite giving multiple ultimatums and conducting a five-day warning strike from May 17th to 21st earlier this year.
NARD further emphasized that the resolutions from the conciliatory meeting, chaired by the former Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, had not been implemented even after seven weeks, despite the set timelines for their implementation.
The major demands reiterated by NARD are immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), the release of the circular on one-for-one replacement, payment of skipping arrears, and an upward review of CONMESS to bring salaries in line with the 2014 value of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).
Additionally, the association is demanding the payment of arrears of consequential adjustment of minimum to omitted doctors, the reversal of the downgrading of the membership certificate by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), payment of MRTF, new hazard allowance, skipping, and the implementation of corrected CONMESS in State Tertiary Health Institutions, as well as the payment of omitted hazard allowance arrears.
