Why we suspended strike- NARD President Orji Reveals

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has revealed why it has called off its 17-day statewide strike, which began on July 26, 2023.

Dr Emeka Orji, President of NARD, told The PUNCH on Saturday that the strike has been suspended following major measures by the Federal Government to fulfill the doctors’ requests.

Mr. Orji stated that the National Executive Council of NARD agreed to halt the strike since the government has begun to address some of their concerns.

 “We had a meeting at the villa and with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday and we see that they are willing to meet our demands, and for the interest of the people and the country, we have to suspend the strike.

“For now, the government has released the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund, and has started work on the circular on one-for-one replacement because they sent a letter to the Chief Medical Directors to provide some documents, and some CMDs have sent it the documents required, so we hope that the one-for-one replacement of doctors will take effect soon.

“The circular on one-for-one replacement would address the manpower shortage and hopefully , this will take effect in the next two weeks.”

According to The Gistlover, NARD members decided to call off their indefinite strike on Friday night after the NEC discussed their demands and the steps the government is taking to address them.

The doctors are therefore instructed to return on Saturday by 8 AM while they assess the two weeks’ worth of progress.

To further hammer home their demands, the doctors began an indefinite industrial strike on July 26.

The doctors are demanding the immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund, the immediate release of the one-for-one replacement circular, the payment of skipping arrears, the upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure in line with full salary restoration to the 2014 value of CONMESS, the payment of the arrears of consequential adjustment of minimum to the omitted doctors, and the reversal of the downgrading of the membership certificate b.

Orji had previously stated to that the minimum requirements for ending the indefinite strike were the publication of the circular for the one-for-one replacement of clinical staff and the payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund.