The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has
expressed its strong
dissatisfaction with the recently approved N25,000
allowance for doctors by the Nigerian government led by President Bola Tinubu,
deeming it as nothing short of laughable.
In an interview with journalists, Dr. Emeka Oji, the President
of NARD, conveyed their discontent and made it clear that the industrial action
initiated by the association would continue unabated.
The cause of this unrest stemmed from a statement made by Ekpo
Nta, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the national salary and wages
commission, announcing the approval of the N25,000 allowance for doctors on a
quarterly basis, to be paid from the overhead budget. The effective date for
this allowance was set to be June 1, 2023.
Reacting to the news, Dr. Emeka Oji labeled the N25,000
allowance as nothing more than a laughing matter. He emphasized that the
ongoing strike would persist, and NARD was currently holding a meeting to
address the matter. He hinted that an official statement from NARD regarding
the N25,000.00 allowance would be issued soon.
This industrial action was not an isolated incident. Previously,
NARD had declared a strike action in response to their unmet demands. On July
5, they issued a two-week ultimatum to the Nigerian government to implement all
their demands.
Efforts were made to prevent this strike from happening. The
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, held closed-door
deliberations with the leadership of NARD, where he assured them that he would
meet with President Bola Tinubu to avoid the impending industrial action.
Unfortunately, despite these discussions, the doctors in public health
facilities still declared a “total and indefinite strike action.”
The demands put forward by NARD encompassed various issues,
including the immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund
(MRTF), the immediate release of the circular on one-for-one replacement, and
the payment of skipping arrears.
In conclusion, the National Association of Resident Doctors
remained resolute in their demands, expressing their dissatisfaction with the
meager N25,000 allowance and continuing their strike until their concerns were
adequately addressed by the Nigerian government.
