National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (NARD) says there is no going back on planned five days warning strike starting from Wednesday, May 11.
Muhammad Askira, president of the association, who disclosed this at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja, noted that the association at its extra-ordinary executive council meeting held on May 8 reached the decision. The doctors were going on strike because the government was yet to meet their demands as promised.
“These are issues that have been lingering for years. We gave them a 21-day ultimatum and extended the ultimatum with another 14 days, and we gave them another two more days before the warning strike.
“It is quite unfortunate that after all these we are embarking on a warning strike. We are supposed to proceed on an indefinite strike but we decided to proceed on a warning strike,” said Askira.
The demands made by NARD to the authorities, according to the president, include remuneration and residency training programmes. He added that some members in some states were yet to be paid their salaries. Among those being owed salaries were doctors in Federal Teaching Hospitals.
The strike had earlier been postponed out of respect the association said it had for President Muhammadu Buhari and members of the National Assembly who had intervened at the initial stage. Embarking on an indefinite strike will be a last resort should the government fail to heed their warning and “redeem its pledge,” said Askira.
The warning strike will begin at 8am on May 11, and would end on May 15, while all members of the association are expected to resume work on May 16 at 8am.
