The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced plan to embark in peaceful protests starting from Wednesday, August 9, 2023, should the Federal Government fail to meet their demands.
The locations targeted for picketing include the Federal Ministry of Health, the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, and federal and state tertiary health institutions across the country.
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In a circular titled, ‘Notice of nationwide mass protests and picketing by NARD,’ dated Saturday, August 5, 2023, the association formally communicated its intentions to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health, Olufunso Adebiyi.
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The circular, signed by the President of NARD, Dr Emeka Orji, and the Secretary-General, Dr Kelechi Chikezie, outlines various demands that prompted the indefinite strike the association commenced on July 26, 2023.
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The doctors are calling for the implementation of the one-for-one replacement policy for healthcare workers, an end to the downgrading of membership certificates issued by the West African Postgraduate Medical and Surgical Colleges by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, immediate payment of all salary arrears, adoption of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, a new hazard allowance, and the domestication of the Medical Residency Training Act, among others.
In response, the Federal Government issued a circular on August 1, 2023, directing the implementation of the ‘no work, no pay’ policy on striking NARD members for Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors in the Federal Tertiary Hospitals, along with the requirement to maintain an attendance register for willing resident doctors.
However, on August 5, 2023, NARD issued another circular announcing their intention to proceed with daily peaceful protests and picketing at government institutions to further emphasize their demands.
The scheduled protests and picketing are set to begin on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, at 10 am, targeting the Federal Ministry of Health, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, and all federal and state tertiary health institutions nationwide.
The circular reads thus;
“This has become necessary to press home our demands which have been largely neglected by our parent ministry and the Federal Government.
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We are pained that rather than make genuine and concerted efforts to resolve the challenges that led to the industrial action despite repeated ultimatums, our parent ministry and the Federal Government have chosen to demonise Nigerian resident doctors instead, after all, their sacrifices and patriotism.
“We, therefore, resolved that it is time the whole world hears our side of the story – the decay and corruption in the health sector, as well as the neglect the public health institutions have suffered all these years that led to repeated industrial actions.
“We believe that the government still has time to genuinely address the issues at stake before Wednesday, 9th August 2023, or leave us with no other option.”
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