Resident doctors call off indefinite nationwide strike

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) announced on Friday that it has decided to suspend its indefinite nationwide strike. The strike, which commenced on July 26, 2023, was initiated due to the perceived failure of the Federal Government to meet the doctors’ demands.

The primary demands put forth by NARD included a comprehensive review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), the recruitment of new doctors and nurses to compensate for those who had left the healthcare system, the disbursement of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), settlement of salary arrears, and an enhancement of hazard allowances by state governments, among other issues.

Earlier intentions of the resident doctors included nationwide protests, specifically targeting key government institutions such as the Federal Ministry of Health, the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, and state tertiary health institutions, to further emphasize the urgency of their demands.

However, NARD President, Dr. Emeka Orji, confirmed the suspension of the strike in an interview with The Nation on Friday night. He revealed that doctors are set to resume their duties at 8 am on Saturday. Dr. Orji stated, “We just suspended the strike. Work resumes at 8 am tomorrow (Saturday). We will review the progress made in 2 weeks.”

The decision to suspend the strike came after notable interventions, including engagements with high-level officials. These interactions included discussions with representatives from the Presidential Villa and a meeting with the Senate President. Following these dialogues, the government committed to addressing the urgent demands put forward by the resident doctors within a specified timeframe.