Resident doctors to resume work on Wednesday

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has said it will resume work on Wednesday, 6th October.

In a communiqué issued after briefing newsmen in Abuja on Monday, the association said it suspended its 63-day nationwide strike after an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the association on Sunday night.

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The communique was signed by its President, Dr Dare Godiya Ishaya; Dr Suleiman Abiodun Ismail, Secretary-general and Dr Alfa Yusuf, the publicity/social secretary.

The meeting was attended by 79 chapters of the association from both the state and federal tertiary health institutions across Nigeria, the communiqué said.

“NEC resolved by the votes of a simple majority, to suspend the total and indefinite strike action embarked upon on 2nd August 2021.

“Therefore, our members will resume full work on Wednesday 6th October 2021 by 8:00 am,” the association said in the communiqué.

The association said the suspension of the strike followed critical appraisal of the performances of both federal and state governments on the issues that led to the strike, progress made in implementing previous agreements reached with the federal government, the interventions of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and other well-meaning Nigerians.

The resident doctors said the payments of the Medical Residency Training Funds (MRTF) had commenced with the verified centres across the country, adding that migration of members from the GIFMIS to the IPPIS platform had also commenced and almost been completed.

While noting the commendable level of resolutions of issues involving house officers by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), the association commended the federal government’s willingness to withdraw the case against it at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) and return to the negotiation table in the interest of peace in the health sector.

“The NEC also noted the willingness of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation to withdraw the obnoxious circular removing House Officers from the scheme of service, and also acknowledged the explanatory circular from Salaries, Income and Wages Commission in that regard.

“The NEC observed with great concern the conditions of our members in various state government employments, especially Abia, Imo, Ekiti and Ondo State Governments who are currently owed twenty-one (21) months, six (6) months, five (5) months and three (3) months of salary arrears respectively,” the association said.