By Desire Emmanuel
Resident doctors under the aegis of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) have alerted Nigerians over the alleged refusal by the Federal Government to meet what they described as their core demands.
The resident doctors suspended their indefinite strike on November 29 after embarking on the strike that began on November 1.
The doctors agreed to suspend the strike for four weeks to allow the government to implement agreed-upon demands. The strike was called off following an Extraordinary National Executive Council meeting where NARD reviewed negotiations with the Federal Government.
However, on Sunday, December 28, the doctors disclosed that three days to the one month deadline given to the Federal Government to implement the core demands, the government seems to have ignored them.
In a statement on Sunday, the association listed seven core demands which it said had not been implemented by the government, warning that they may be forced to resume their strike.
The demands are: reinstatement of five personnel of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, which is still pending; promotion and salary arrears, with full payment outstanding in some hospitals; reintroduction and implementation of specialist allowance not yet done.
Others are: “CBA. Negotiations yet to resume and conclude.
“Skipping/Entry Level: Appointments, IPPIS capture, and salaries stuck at CONMESS 2, contrary to Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation clarification.
“House Officers: Salary delays, unpaid arrears one to six months), and unissued pay advisories persist.
“Locum and work hour committees which are yet to commence work.”
The resident doctors therefore added: “NARD suspended its strike in good faith and national interest. Agreements must be honoured. Three days to go. The clock is ticking. Nigeria is watching.”
