…Exempt members attending to COVID-19 patients for two
weeks
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) of Nigeria
on Monday commenced a nationwide indefinite strike. This is coming
after the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued on the 30th of
May.
The President of NARD, Dr. Aliyu Sokomba, announced this in a
press briefing in Abuja.
He stated that the Association’s decision is predicated on the
fact that the healthcare delivery system is characterised by the
perpetual unavailability of personnel protective equipment (PPEs)
for healthcare workers, which has caused an increase in infection
rates.
He also noted that in spite of repeated promises, the Federal
Government has still not paid the COVID-19 hazard inducement
allowance to all health workers across the country.
Also, the implementation of the Medical Residency Training Act
in all Federal and State hospital, which ensures the inclusion of
the residency funding into the reviewed 2020 budget, has not been
effected.
According to Sokomba, “NEC noted the sorry state of the
healthcare delivery system characterized by the perpetual
unavailability of personnel protective equipment for healthcare
workers in our hospitals with the attendant increase in infection
rates, the unnecessary suffering of patients and their relatives,
the financial hardship, the obsolete equipment, machines and
technology etc.
“NEC noted the commitment of National Assembly speaker to
implement the Medical Residency Training Act by ensuring inclusion
of the residency funding into the reviewed 2020 budget.
“NEC observed the insincerity of the Appointees of Executive Arm
of Government in paying the outstanding salary shortfall of 2014,
2015, 2016 under the guise of the so called appeal of the National
Industrial Court decision.
“NEC observed non-payment of the COVID-19 hazard inducement
allowance to all health workers across the country in spite of
repeated promises by the government.”
He added, “NEC observed that the plight of her members in state
tertiary hospitals such as the non-domestication and
non-implementation of Medical Residency Training Act at the state
level, the non-implementation of appropriate salary structure, and
the non-payment of owed salaries and recently, the slashing of
salaries of doctors and other health care workers by Kaduna and
Kogi State government is yet to receive attention by the
stakeholders.
“NEC Noted the meddlesome and abuse of administrative power by
Professor Henry A.A.”
Sokomba said the National Executive Council (NEC) of the NARD
therefore resolved to proceed on an indefinite nationwide strike
action with the exemption of its members attending to COVID-19
patients at designated COVID -19 treatment and isolation centres
for two weeks, after which if things remain the same, they shall
also be co-opted to join the strike.
He said this exemption is in recognition of the intervention of
the Honorable speaker, House of Representative, the chairman, house
committee on health services Dr. Tanko Sununu and other
stakeholders as well as a demonstration of our good will to
Nigerians.
The Association, therefore, demands: “The provision of the grossly
inadequate appropriate Personal Protective Equipment for all
Healthcare workers.
“The universal Implementation of the Medical Residency Training
Act in all Federal and State hospitals and ensuring pay parity
among doctors of equal cadre.
“The immediate implementation of the revised Hazard allowance
and payment of the COVID-19 inducement allowance as agreed with by
the Government and Healthcare Workers 3 months ago.
“The provision of funding for Medical Residency Training in the
2021 Appropriation bill.
“The payment of all arrears owed our members in Federal and
States tertiary health institutions, arising from the consequential
adjustment of the National minimum wage.
“The stoppage and immediate refund of all illegal, unjust and
callous cut in salaries of our members by Kaduna State and other
state governments.”
The Association urged President Muhammadu Buhari, to call
relevant agents/agencies to order for deliberately creating chaos
to destabilize his administration.
The National Executive Council meeting of the Nigerian
Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) held virtually on 14th June
2020, to review the 14-day ultimatum issued to government which
elapsed two days ago.
The meeting was attended by over 500 doctors – NOC, NEC, Past
Presidents, Caucus leaders, Committee Chairmen, and observers.
…Exempt members attending to COVID-19 patients for two
weeks
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) of Nigeria
on Monday commenced a nationwide indefinite strike. This is coming
after the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued on the 30th of
May.
The President of NARD, Dr. Aliyu Sokomba, announced this in a
press briefing in Abuja.
He stated that the Association’s decision is predicated on the
fact that the healthcare delivery system is characterised by the
perpetual unavailability of personnel protective equipment (PPEs)
for healthcare workers, which has caused an increase in infection
rates.
He also noted that in spite of repeated promises, the Federal
Government has still not paid the COVID-19 hazard inducement
allowance to all health workers across the country.
Also, the implementation of the Medical Residency Training Act
in all Federal and State hospital, which ensures the inclusion of
the residency funding into the reviewed 2020 budget, has not been
effected.
According to Sokomba, “NEC noted the sorry state of the
healthcare delivery system characterized by the perpetual
unavailability of personnel protective equipment for healthcare
workers in our hospitals with the attendant increase in infection
rates, the unnecessary suffering of patients and their relatives,
the financial hardship, the obsolete equipment, machines and
technology etc.
“NEC noted the commitment of National Assembly speaker to
implement the Medical Residency Training Act by ensuring inclusion
of the residency funding into the reviewed 2020 budget.
“NEC observed the insincerity of the Appointees of Executive Arm
of Government in paying the outstanding salary shortfall of 2014,
2015, 2016 under the guise of the so called appeal of the National
Industrial Court decision.
“NEC observed non-payment of the COVID-19 hazard inducement
allowance to all health workers across the country in spite of
repeated promises by the government.”
He added, “NEC observed that the plight of her members in state
tertiary hospitals such as the non-domestication and
non-implementation of Medical Residency Training Act at the state
level, the non-implementation of appropriate salary structure, and
the non-payment of owed salaries and recently, the slashing of
salaries of doctors and other health care workers by Kaduna and
Kogi State government is yet to receive attention by the
stakeholders.
“NEC Noted the meddlesome and abuse of administrative power by
Professor Henry A.A.”
Sokomba said the National Executive Council (NEC) of the NARD
therefore resolved to proceed on an indefinite nationwide strike
action with the exemption of its members attending to COVID-19
patients at designated COVID -19 treatment and isolation centres
for two weeks, after which if things remain the same, they shall
also be co-opted to join the strike.
He said this exemption is in recognition of the intervention of
the Honorable speaker, House of Representative, the chairman, house
committee on health services Dr. Tanko Sununu and other
stakeholders as well as a demonstration of our good will to
Nigerians.
The Association, therefore, demands: “The provision of the grossly
inadequate appropriate Personal Protective Equipment for all
Healthcare workers.
“The universal Implementation of the Medical Residency Training
Act in all Federal and State hospitals and ensuring pay parity
among doctors of equal cadre.
“The immediate implementation of the revised Hazard allowance
and payment of the COVID-19 inducement allowance as agreed with by
the Government and Healthcare Workers 3 months ago.
“The provision of funding for Medical Residency Training in the
2021 Appropriation bill.
“The payment of all arrears owed our members in Federal and
States tertiary health institutions, arising from the consequential
adjustment of the National minimum wage.
“The stoppage and immediate refund of all illegal, unjust and
callous cut in salaries of our members by Kaduna State and other
state governments.”
The Association urged President Muhammadu Buhari, to call
relevant agents/agencies to order for deliberately creating chaos
to destabilize his administration.
The National Executive Council meeting of the Nigerian
Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) held virtually on 14th June
2020, to review the 14-day ultimatum issued to government which
elapsed two days ago.
The meeting was attended by over 500 doctors – NOC, NEC, Past
Presidents, Caucus leaders, Committee Chairmen, and observers.