National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced the suspension of its strike with effect from Monday, June 22, 2020.
It would be recalled that the body embarked on the nationwide strike on Monday, June 15 following the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum due to the inability of the Federal Government to meet its demands.
Read Also: Resident Doctors Begin Nationwide Strike Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
NARD has now said the decision to suspend the strike was taken to give the government time to fulfil outstanding demands, following an appeal from the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and other stakeholders.
NARD made the announcement in a communique read to journalists by its President, Dr. Aliyu Sokomba, on Sunday in Abuja after its National Executive Council meeting attended by over 300 members, Punch reports.
The demands of the body, according to a circular released on Monday, include;
Provision of grossly inadequate appropriate Personal Protective Equipment for all health care workers; Immediate reversal of the illegal disengagement of all 26 resident doctors in Jos University Teaching Hospital, and the payment of all salaries owed them, in keeping with provisions of the Medical Residency Training Act.
Universal Implementation of the Medical Residency Training Act in all federal and state hospitals and ensuring pay parity among doctors of equal cadre; Immediate implementation of the revised hazard allowance and payment of the COVID-19 inducement allowance as agreed with by the Federal Government and healthcare workers three months ago.
The association also advocated the provision of funding for Medical Residency Training in the 2021 Appropriation bill, as well as payment of all arrears, owed its members in the federal and states tertiary health institutions, arising from the consequential adjustment of the National minimum wage.
As at Saturday night, Nigeria recorded 19,808 confirmed cases, 6718 successfully managed cases and 506 casualties.
