The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has said
it would embark on an indefinite strike beginning from April 1 if the Federal
Government failed to meet its demands.
This was contained in a communiqué issued on Sunday in Abuja
at the end of NARD’s extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.
The communique was signed by Dr Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi, NARD
President, Dr Jerry Isogun, Secretary-General and Dr Dotun Osikoya, Publicity
and Social Secretary.
The communiqué said that the NEC had agreed that it would
proceed on a total and indefinite strike on April 1, 2021, by 8 am.
This, according to NARD, is if immediate payment of all
salaries owed to all house officers, including March salaries, were not paid
before the end of business on March 31, 2021.
NARD demanded a review of the current hazard allowance to 50
per cent of consolidated basic salaries of all health workers and payment of
outstanding COVID-19 inducement allowance upward.
The association called for the abolishment of exorbitant
bench fees being paid by members on outside postings in all training
institutions across the country.
NARD said that payment of salary shortfalls of 2014, 2015
and 2016 to members in all Federal Institutions, including state-owned
institutions, as earlier agreed with NARD, must be paid.
According to the association, there must be payment of death
in service insurance for all health workers who died as a result of COVID-19
infection and other infectious diseases.
It said there should be universal domestication and
implementation of the 2017 MRTA by all federal and state-owned training
institutions.
This, according to the association, is to ensure proper
funding of residency training in the country as stipulated by the Act.
NARD called for the commencement of employment into all
government-owned hospitals to improve service delivery to Nigerians and enhance
residency training to curb brain drain in the health sector.
The association also sought the review of the Act regulating
postgraduate medical training in Nigeria in line with international best
practices.
NARD demanded the sack of the Registrar of MDCN for failure
to demonstrate competence in the handling of the central placement of house
officers.
The communiqué added that it would give room for the smooth
implementation of the central placement of house officers without delays.
NARD reiterated the commitment of NARD to the smooth running
of all tertiary institutions in the country and the provision of specialist
healthcare to Nigerians.
NARD, however, urged the Federal Government to urgently meet
the above demands in order to avert this avoidable industrial action, NAN
reports.
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