If the Federal Government does not agree to the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors' demands, the association has threatened to call a national strike.
The association informed the minister of health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, of this in a letter to him that was signed by its president, Dr. Emeka Orji, and in which it threatened to go on strike if the problems were not resolved before the meeting of the National Executive Council, which would take place from January 24 to 28.
Six months ago, NARD gave the Federal Government an ultimatum regarding ongoing problems that affected its members. These problems included irregularities in the new circular on an upward review of the Medical Residency Training Fund, unpaid arrears for the new hazard allowance, non-payment of the skipping arrears for 2014, 2015, and 2016, and non-payment of the consequential adjustment of the minimum wage to some of its members.
Salary arrears of its members in state-run tertiary health institutions in the states of Abia, Imo, Ondo, Ekiti, and Gombe have been running for several months. Other issues include the non-domestication of the Medical Residency Training Act in the majority of states across the federation.
The letter said, in part, "Sir, our January 2023 National Executive Council meeting has been scheduled for January 24 to 28th, 2023, and we can confirm very clearly feelers that if these issues are not resolved before that meeting, our members will likely give us a mandate to immediately start processes that will lead to a nationwide industrial disharmony in the health sector.
"Sir, we know how crucial this time frame is and the chaos that will result if the government does not take action to stop this from happening, so we humbly implore you to use your good offices to resolve these issues before our January NEC meeting. We believe that you will help us and spare this country from the impending industrial chaos because of your fatherly nature, sir. ".
NARD sent copies of the letter to a number of other individuals, including the Chairman of the Nigerian Governor's Forum, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minister of Labor and Finance, as well as the Secretary to the Government of Federation.
Although the association applauded the government's efforts through its ministries, departments, and agencies to address some of the issues raised, it claimed that many of them went largely unresolved, which caused agitations among its members across the country.