Panic as Nigerian medical doctors strike begins in two weeks

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– Medical doctors in Nigeria are preparing to go on strike in two weeks

– The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has given the federal government a 2-week ultimatum

– President of NARD, Dr Onyebueze listed unpaid salaries among the problems of the health sector

Doctors protest march. File Photo

The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has followed in the footsteps of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), as they have also given the federal government notice of industrial action.

According to Punch, NARD gave the government two weeks to resolve all pending issues in the health sector or face a medical doctors strike at the end of the month.

The president of the association, Dr John Onyebueze, while speaking with journalists at the end of NARD’s 26th Annual General Meeting in Enugu, disclosed the ultimatum.

Stating the many issues plaguing the health sector, Dr Onyebueze listed unpaid salaries, and said he could not guarantee industrial harmony in the health sector if there was no change by the end of September, 2016.

READ ALSO: BREAKING: Panic as ASUU prepares for strike again

He also urged the government to implement its agreement with health workers, which included upgrading the infrastructure in teaching hospitals, taking urgent action against poliomyelitis and Lassa fever, and the immediate release and implementation of the report on the residency training programme.

He also asked: “Are you talking about the rickety beds in the accident and emergency wards? We do not even have gloves and emergency tools. We do not have pens to write and make prescriptions. We are saying that this thing must not continue.”

The association also demanded that the government ensures fast track action on the bailout funds needed by the tertiary health institutions in the country, as previously agreed, and ensure the migration of all NARD members to the IPPIS platform.

“Centers that are not deducting pension contributions from our members should immediately commence, while all centers should ensure full remittance of deducted contributions of our members to the Pension Fund Administrators.”

READ ALSO: BREAKING: Niger Delta militants strike again, threaten more attacks to come

Also the ‘no work no pay’ rule, which is been currently being applied by the federal ministry of health, did not sit well with association and was not in line with extant labor laws, according to Dr Onyebueze.

Meanwhile, ASUU is said not to be be happy that the federal government reneged on the 2009 agreement it reached with the union. The body has threatened to embark on industrial action on October 2nd.

It is important to note that this has happened several times since 2009. And each time the students are left to bear the brunt, staying away from their institutions for many months and losing academic sessions.

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