The National Association of Resident Doctors has given notice for the commencement of another nationwide strike starting on March 31, 2021.
Key among the doctors’ grievances this time is that the Federal Government has abandoned all the agreements jointly signed by stakeholders during their last engagements.
A memo NARD despatched to its members entitled, ‘Impending Strike Action’ was jointly signed by the President of NARD, Dr Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi and Secretary-General, Dr. Jerry Isogun.
It is the third time NARD will be going on strike in nine months. It went on strike in June and September 2020 due to unpaid allowances and poor working conditions.
The memo with reference number, NARD/SG/2020-2021/180321/376 stated that the strike would be total and indefinite.
The union recalled that it was resolved at its last executive meeting that a two-week timeline be given for the government to expedite actions on issues tabled before it.
“ You would also recall that the January NEC gave an ultimatum that will elapse on March 31, 2021, for all pending issues to be addressed.
“In the light of the above, we ask that all members should be sensitised and encouraged to prepare mentally, socially and financially for a strike action that will commence on March 31 indefinitely.”
The union lamented that the Federal Government was still paying a paltry N5,000 as hazard allowance to medical doctors.
“We are still being paid N5,000 hazard allowances while National Assembly members take over N1.2m monthly for hardship allowance.”
Okhuaihesuyi said the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment had also failed to attend to their plight and even cancelled an important meeting where pressing issues were supposed to have been discussed.
“On February 26, we were to meet with the ministry of labour only to be told a day earlier that the meeting had been postponed and till today nothing. Enough is enough. They can go ahead to implement no work, no pay. We will make the health sector ungovernable for them,” he said.
