The NARD strike crisis escalates as the NEC lists seven urgent conditions the government must meet before suspending the nationwide industrial action
The President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, Dr Mohammad Suleiman, has said the NARD strike crisis will not ease until the government fulfils seven critical conditions set by the association’s National Executive Council.
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Suleiman spoke on Friday, confirming that although three conciliation meetings were held and 19 items were jointly agreed upon, the government had failed to implement any of the resolutions except for the partial payment of the 25 to 35 per cent allowance.
Health services collapsed nationwide on 1 November when about 11,000 resident doctors in 91 teaching hospitals began an indefinite strike over unpaid allowances and worsening working conditions.
The situation intensified on 15 November when the Joint Health Sector Unions joined the industrial action, heightening concerns over patient safety and the fragile state of hospital operations.
Suleiman said all parties had earlier acknowledged that the 19 demands required immediate attention, yet none had been completed.
He described the lack of progress as “deeply troubling”.
According to him, the NEC has distilled its expectations into seven urgent issues that must be resolved before the strike can be suspended.
These include the reinstatement of the dismissed Lokoja doctors, the release of the Professional Allowance Table, the payment of promotion arrears, outstanding salary arrears in certain hospitals, the implementation of upgrades for doctors who passed their Part I examinations, the enforcement of the specialist allowance, and the settlement of the Membership Certificate problem.
He said the government had agreed to specific timelines, especially during the previous Friday’s meeting, for the compilation of promotion arrears, the collation of salary arrears, and a formal directive to the Accountant General on upgrade matters. However, none of these actions has been completed.
Suleiman noted that the Head of Service had still not clarified the controversial entry-level downgrade from CONMESS three to CONMESS two.
He added that even a two-week extension granted for some issues had expired without progress.
He warned that the NEC is disappointed that the Lokoja case, due to be resolved on 20 November, had still not been reported on.
He emphasised that no demand had been fully met, even the allowance adjustment, which he said remains incomplete with about 40 per cent of members yet to receive payment.
Suleiman also highlighted unresolved problems with payroll systems. He said the IPPIS remittance report, expected last Friday, had not been produced, while the GIFMIS accoutrement allowance list had been riddled with errors, including instances of double payment.
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Despite the overwhelming disruption, Suleiman said the union remains open to a constructive resolution if the government meets its commitments, stressing that the NARD Strike Crisis will continue until concrete action is taken.
