The Nigerian Government has made an appeal to the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to halt their ongoing indefinite strike, which commenced last month.
During a conference led by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Kachollom Daju, it was stressed that the striking doctors should take into account the lives of numerous Nigerians at risk and bring the strike to an end.
The Permanent Secretary acknowledged the diligent efforts of the new administration and other pertinent agencies to address the contentious issues and meet the doctors’ demands.
She expressed, “We are using this platform to earnestly plead with NARD. The truth is that countless Nigerians are losing their lives.
The healthcare sector holds immense significance.
While all sectors are valuable, we understand the crucial role medical doctors play. Imagine falling ill and not having access to medical care. People are perishing, unable to tend to their health.
Thus, I implore them and echo the sentiments of various government representatives, urging them to terminate their strike and resume their duties.
I am aware that your parent ministry, in conjunction with other government bodies, is tirelessly working to resolve this matter
Regarding responsibility, she emphasized that the Federal Government anticipated that NARD would understand their standpoint conscientiously. She mentioned that there might have been an assumption by the doctors that their requests would be immediately fulfilled between May 29 and the present, but certain issues have already been addressed by the government.
She highlighted that since the commencement of the Tinubu administration, the Federal Government and the National Assembly have been making coordinated efforts to tackle the concerns. She pointed out that the primary contentious matters are the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund payment and the placement of exited doctors.
She expressed optimism about the future, assuring that the government is actively working to appoint ministers and empathizes with the doctors’ situation.
Despite their pleas, the NARD initiated an indefinite strike on July 26, 2023, due to the government’s failure to meet their demands.
The NARD’s key demands encompass the prompt disbursement of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund, issuance of the circular for one-for-one replacement, clearance of skipping arrears, and revising CONMESS to restore salaries to their 2014 levels.
They stressed that their concerns include the unreleased 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund, a desire for a complete restoration of salaries to 2014 values, and the erosion of salary value due to factors like inflation, exchange rate fluctuations, and fuel price increases.
