By; SANI ALIYU, Zaria
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has resolved to issue a two-week ultimatum to government beginning 29th April 2023, to resolve all their demands.
This was contained in a communique issued at the end of its Extra Ordinary NEC Meeting, signed by the President, Dr. Emeka Orji Innocent, Secretary Gen, Dr. Chikezie Kelechi and Publicity and Social Secretary, Dr. Umar Musa held at the Telemedicine Hall, Federal Medical Centre Abeokuta, Ogun State on Saturday, stressing that after the expiration of the ultimatum on May 13, 2023, it may not be able to guarantee industrial harmony in the sector nationwide.
Also the NEC Meeting demands the immediate implementation of CONMESS, Domestication of MRTA, and review of hazard allowance by all the state Governments as well as Private Tertiary Health Institutions where any form of Residency Training is done.
It also demands an immediate commencement of payment of all salary arrears owed to its members by the various state governments, notorious amongst which is the Abia State Government.
The communique demanded for an immediate massive recruitment of clinical staff in the hospitals and complete abolishment of bureaucratic limitations to the immediate replacement of Doctors who leave the system.
“NEC demands immediate infrastructural development in our various hospitals without further delay and insists on at least 15% budgetary allocation to health subsequently”.
The meeting have resolved for an immediate increment in the CONMESS salary structure to the tune of 200% of the current gross salary of Doctors in addition to the new allowances included in the letter written by NARD to the Honorable Minister of Health on the 7th of July 2022 for the review of CONMESS.
They also demanded for an immediate withdrawal and jettisoning of the ill-conceived bill by Honorable Ganiyu Johnson on the enslavement of young doctors in Nigeria.
“While the NEC demands for the immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) in line with the agreements reached at the stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Federal Ministry of Health at the Honourable Minister of State for Health’s conference room. It’s also demands the commencement of payment of all salary arrears owed to its members, including 2014, 2015, and 2016 salary arrears as well as areas of the consequential adjustment of the minimum wage,” it said.
The extra ordinary meeting observed that despite several engagements by NARD with the government on the need to upwardly review the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) which was last reviewed over ten years ago, government has neither called NARD the negotiation table nor taken any tangible step in addressing the issue.
“This is against the background of the dwindling economic situation in the country, the serial abysmal decline in the value of the naira, the imminent removal of fuel subsidy, and the consequent damaging effect on the cost of living in the country”.
