September 7, 2020

The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) says its going ahead with the nationwide strike scheduled for today (Monday) by 8am.

While speaking to journalists yesterday, Dr Stanley Egbogu, the National Publicity Secretary of NARD, said the strike will commence as scheduled today because the Federal Government of Nigeria is yet to invite its leadership for a meeting.

He said, “The Federal Government has not invited us to a meeting after we notified them that we will be proceeding on strike. We have directed all our members across the country both federal and state institutions to recommence the strike we suspended on June 22, 2020.

“We call on all other unions in the health sector, the Nigerian Medical Association, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives and others to support this struggle for upward review of our hazard allowance from the paltry sum of N5,000.

“The truth is that the current hazard allowance can’t be compared to the daily risks of hazard we face every day from the current coronavirus to the Hepatitis B and C viruses. The risks is just too much for N5,000.”

It will recalled that NARD had on September 4, 2020 notified the Federal Government and other stakeholders of its resolve to resume their suspended strike action on Monday, September 7, 2020 if their demands are not met.

The association in a statement signed by the President, Dr Aliyu Sokomba; Secretary, Dr Bilqis Mohammad, and the Publicity Secretary, Dr Egbogu Stanley, said the strike would commence after the 21-day ultimatum it gave to the Federal Government elapsed on August 17.

Some of the demands of the doctors include:

– Provision of genuine Group life insurance and death in service benefits for all health workers.

– Immediate payment of the Medical Residency Training funding to all her members as approved in the revised 2020 budget

– Payment of the outstanding April/May and June COVID-19 inducement allowance to all health workers.

– Determination of the revised hazard allowance for all health workers as agreed in previous meetings with relevant stakeholders.

– Immediate payment of the salary shortfalls of 2014, 2015 and 2016.

With the strike action by NARD, the general public should anticipate disruption of medical services in most government hospitals.


https://www.yourhealthng.com.ng/2020/09/07/nigerian-resident-doctors-down-tools-today/

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Cc: Sissy3, Dominique