The Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with doctors under the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).
NARD might end their ongoing strike within the next 48 hours following a successful meeting with the FG represented by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, on May 19.
MoU was signed between the government and the NARD after the meeting.
It was said that the doctors’ association held a meeting earlier with the National Assembly Joint Health Committee, with both the Senate and House of Representatives Committee Chair on Health, and other relevant stakeholders in attendance.
NARD however warned that it might embark on an indefinite strike should the government fail to meet its demands.
The association had earlier given a two-week ultimatum which ended on May 13, 2023, however, on May 17, the NARD began a five-day warning strike over unmet demands. The warning strike was expected to end on Monday, May 22, at 8 am.
The association’s demands included a 200 per cent review of their Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), and the issuance of a circular by the House of Representatives jettisoning the bill by Hon Ganiyu Johnson, which sought to stop young doctors from leaving the country without a five-year service period.
Additionally, they demanded an issuance of a circular by the Federal Ministry of Health. The issuance was for the replacement of doctors and nurses that have left the system with new ones.
Finally, it demanded the payment of salary arrears, and improvement in hazard allowance by state governments, among others.
