The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has given the Federal Government a fresh two-week ultimatum to address the lingering demands of its members. The ultimatum was issued during the Extraordinary National Executive Council (E-NEC) virtual meeting.
NARD assessed the level of implementation of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with the government on May 19, 2023, following a five-day warning strike embarked upon by the association on May 17, 2023.
After thorough deliberations on the issues at hand, the NEC reached the following resolutions:
- Immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) as approved in the 2023 budget, in line with previous agreements.
- Prompt settlement of all outstanding arrears owed to NARD members, including hazard allowances, skipping arrears from 2014-2016, and consequential adjustment of minimum wage.
- Urgent release and implementation of guidelines for the one-for-one replacement of clinical staff to address the significant manpower shortage in hospitals across the country.
- Call on the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to discontinue the downgrading of membership certificates issued by the West African Postgraduate Medical and Surgical colleges.
- Immediate payment of salary arrears, implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), new hazard allowances, domestication of the Medical Residency Training Act, and payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund to members in state tertiary health institutions nationwide.
- Extension of the ultimatum by an additional two weeks, effective from July 5, 2023.
- Insistence on the immediate implementation of a minimum 200% increment in the CONMESS salary structure and an upward review of associated allowances.
NARD emphasized that if these demands are not met by July 19, 2023, they cannot guarantee industrial harmony in the health sector nationwide.
