The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has
threatened to embark on strike if the federal government fails to meet its
demands within two weeks.
NARD issued the ultimatum at the end of its national
executive council (NEC) meeting on Saturday at Abeokuta, Ogun state capital.
“NEC resolved to issue the Government a two-week ultimatum
beginning today, 29th April 2023, to resolve all these demands,
following the expiration of which on the 13th May 2023, we may not be able to
guarantee industrial harmony in the sector nationwide,” the communiqué reads.
The national executive council of the association said the
federal government has refused to negotiate with the association or take
tangible steps on the “upward review” of the consolidated medical salary
structure (CONMESS).
The association accused the federal government of refusing
to pay the salary arrears of 2014, 2015 and 2016 to resident doctors.
The resident doctors also condemned the bill seeking to
mandate medical and dental practitioners to practice for five years before
relocating abroad.
“NEC observed that despite several engagements by NARD with
the government on the need to upwardly review the Consolidated Medical Salary
Structure (CONMESS) which was last reviewed over ten years ago, Government has
neither called NARD to the negotiation table nor taken any tangible step in
addressing the issue,” the communiqué reads.
“This is against the
background of the dwindling economic situation in the country, the serial
abysmal decline in the value of the naira, the imminent removal of fuel
subsidy, and the consequent damaging effect on the cost of living in the
country.
“NEC recalled that there have been previous ultimatums
issued to the government by NARD on account of this problem of the review of
the CONMESS salary structure.
“NEC also reiterated that the previous collective bargaining
agreement (CBA) on CONMESS stated clearly that the salary structure would be
due for review after five years, but this has not been done since the implementation
in 2014, though the approval was given in 2009.
“NEC demands an immediate increment in the CONMESS salary
structure to the tune of 200% of the current gross salary of doctors in
addition to the new allowances included in the letter written by NARD to the
honourable minister of health on the 7th of July 2022 for the review of
CONMESS.
“NEC demands
immediate massive recruitment of clinical staff in the hospitals and complete
abolishment of bureaucratic limitations to the immediate replacement of doctors
who leave the system.
“NEC demands immediate infrastructural development in our
various hospitals without further delay and insists on at least 15% budgetary
allocation to health subsequently.
“NEC resolved to issue the government a two-week ultimatum
beginning today, 29th
April 2023, to resolve all these demands, following the
expiration of which on the 13th May 2023, we may not be able to guarantee
industrial harmony in the sector nationwide.”
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