The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has disclosed a plan to call off its warning strike within the next 48 hours as reconciliation efforts with the federal government of Nigeria advances to the top level.

The aggrieved doctors and the federal government, represented by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, held a meeting where a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the FG and the NARD.

The doctors stressed that the MoU would be returned to the NARD’s National Executive Council (NEC), which will analyse the content of the paper and decide whether to accept what the government is offering and suspend the strike or extend the ultimatum because many of the items in the MoU have deadlines.

The association added that it may go on an indefinite strike should the NEC reject what the government is offering in the signed MoU.

Earlier, the doctors’ group met with the National Assembly Joint Health Committee, which included both the Senate and House Committee Chairs on Health, as well as other key stakeholders, where they also agitated for their demands.

The warning strike which is expected to end on Monday, May 22, at 8 am, started on Wednesday, May 17, over unmet demands.

The doctors are demanding 200 per cent review of their Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), issuance of a circular by the House of Representatives to stop the bill by Hon. Ganiyu Johnson, which seeks to stop young doctors from leaving the country until they have worked for five years before going to practice elsewhere.

They’re also calling for immediate employment of doctors and nurses who have left the country with new ones, and the payment of salary arrears, improvement in hazard allowance by state governments, among several others.

i-News Nigeria