The National Executive Council of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has resolved to continue their strike after reviewing the responses of the Federal Government to their demands.
The NARD NEC met on Monday evening to review their 19-point demands and the responses of the government to the issues raised within.
NARD has been having conversations with representatives of the Federal Government on this issue since the strike started 18 days ago.
Top of the list is to reinstate sacked doctors from FTH Lokoja, who were asked to leave the service on account of their union activities.
Others include:
- Attending to their demands for proper remuneration — doctors' salaries have not been reviewed since 2014 in Nigeria
- Investing properly in Nigeria's healthcare by way of an enabling environment and human resources cultivation.
The president of NARD, Dr. Mohammad Suleiman, noted that doctors are overworked, with the average physician working over 450 hours monthly, which amounts to at least four straight days in a week. Doctors say this is not good for patient care.
Dr. Suleiman also decried their allowances being underpaid, with less than 50% of their allowances being paid to them in the past decade.
He also noted that entry-level salaries for doctors have been reduced by over ₦120,000, calling it unfair.
The government has not denied the issues at hand, with some figures showing empathy for the doctors.
However, there is no move to solve these issues, and Dr Suleiman has stated that doctors will not return until the issues are attended to.
NARD is telling Nigerians to stand with them and join them to call out the government, who have the primary responsibility of protecting lives and property.
NARD advises that the earlier this is solved, the quicker they return to providing health care.
