Abuja chapter of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) has on March 17 announced that it is embarking on an “indefinite strike”.
This decision is coming about an hour after the third case of Covid19 was confirmed in Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos.
As different countries of the world pool resources to combat the coronavirus crisis, the doctors said they deliberated extensively on the health threat posed by the coronavirus, their work conditions, and patient care before arriving at the “difficult decision.”
In a statement signed by its president, Roland Aigbovo, the association stated that the mass action followed the failure of the FCT administration to pay them their basic salaries for over two months.
Mr Aigbovo added that the nonpayment has thrown their members into financial distress because of the nonpayment of their salaries and despite repeated warnings and ultimatum, authorities has done nothing about it.
He expressed that there has been salary irregularities and shortfalls since the migration to the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) by the FCTA.
The union leader said other health workers who are also affected by the salary shortfalls will join the mass action within 48 hours if their demands “which are the same with ours are not met.”
