The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on Thursday made good its threat to begin a nationwide and indefinite strike, which they did despite signing a memorandum of understanding with the Federal Government.
NARD leaders had met on Thursday with a Federal Government team headed by Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, as part of last-minute efforts to avert the strike, but this proved abortive, as the action still went on.
According to Dr. Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi, president of NARD, the outcome of the meeting had to be transmitted to National Executive Council (NEC) members for further deliberations before any decision on the strike, for which members had already been mobilized, could be taken.
The doctors’ strike came two days after President Muhammadu Buhari departed Nigeria for a medical check-up in London. The medical trip has been condemned by some groups and individuals.
Okhuaihesuyi recalled that there had been cases of previous promises made to the doctors not being fulfilled promises by the government to resident doctors in the past years, noting that due process must be followed in discussions on the strike.
“We commenced the strike at 8 a.m this morning. We had a meeting till early hours of this morning and for you to avert a strike you have to call on your NEC members
“They have made promises as usual which we will take back but they have been making promises over a decade ago and most of it has not been fulfilled so we insist on a total and indefinite strike.”
The government’s hopes of the strike being suspended were dashed Thursday night after NARD’s leaders met.
“The strike continues” Okhuaihesuyi, said after the leadership reviewed the MoU they signed with the government.
“The House Officers and Resident Doctors have not been paid. Concerning the hazard allowance and the insurance, we have been told to wait for five weeks. Those timelines are not acceptable to us.
“We have had such waiting games and promises before – one, two, and over three years ago – so it is not unusual. We have signed so many MoUs for over a decade now, and we are still fighting for the same things. A responsible government will not do that. They need to wake up to their responsibilities.
“Therefore, the strike continues and compliance across the country is 100 percent,” he said.
Reports from around the country show that activities in many tertiary hospitals have been paralyzed by the absence of the doctors.
Patients are not being attended to in some places, while those are arriving at hospitals in some states are being turned back.
