Tech & Tools DeskNARD Vows to Strike, Says 2,000 Doctors Unpaid
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on Wednesday reaffirmed its plan to embark on a nationwide strike from September 10 if the Federal Government and its agencies fail to address its demands.
NARD President, Dr. Tope Osundara, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with our correspondent, noting that a meeting held with the government on Monday ended without any meaningful outcome.
Earlier this week, the association had issued a 10-day ultimatum to the relevant authorities, warning that its members would down tools if their grievances were not resolved.
The doctors criticized the government’s failure to honor its commitments, highlighting that many resident doctors are yet to receive their 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund. They also cited the refusal to pay five months of arrears from the 25 per cent/35 per cent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure review, as well as unpaid 2024 Accoutrement Allowance and other longstanding salary arrears.
Three weeks ago, the government inaugurated the Committee on Collective Bargaining for the health sector, intended to negotiate issues of remuneration, welfare, and working conditions with key unions. However, Osundara said there has been no meaningful progress since then.
“The 10-day ultimatum is still counting, and unfortunately, there has been no positive response from the government,” he said. “If doctors cannot register for exams, their residency training will automatically be extended by one year, which will eventually cost the government even more.”
He added that out of over 2,000 resident doctors across the country, many have not received their training funds, with the registration deadline set for Friday, September 5. Teaching hospitals in Calabar, Port Harcourt, Uyo, Maiduguri, and several others have been affected.
Meanwhile, doctors at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso have been on strike since July 29, while their counterparts in Kaduna State commenced an indefinite strike on September 1.
