Resident doctors begin 5-day warning strike on Wednesday

Following the expiration of the two weeks ultimatum issued to the Federal Government, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has declared a five-day warning strike.

The association had in April threatened to downtool if the federal government fails to pay the salary arrears of 2014, 2015 and 2016 to resident doctors.

According to the doctors, the strike will commence at 8 am on Wednesday, May 17, and will end Monday, May 22, at 8 am.

Members of the association resolved to embark on the industrial action after their National Executive Council meeting held virtually on Monday, May 15, 2023.

In the communique issued in April, NARD demanded a 200% increase in their salary structure and immediate massive recruitment of clinical staff in the hospitals.

The association also demanded “an immediate increment in the CONMESS salary structure to the tune of 200% of the current gross salary of doctors in addition to the new allowances included in the letter written by NARD to the honourable minister of health on the 7th of July 2022 for the review of CONMESS”.

In addition, the doctors demanded “immediate infrastructural development in our various hospitals without further delay and insists on at least 15% budgetary allocation to health subsequently”.

The ultimatum issued to the government in April ended on Saturday, May 13, 2023 and the doctors’ demands remain unaddressed.