The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has terminated its nationwide strike, as declared by the association's national president, Innocent Orji, late in the evening on Friday, August 11. In an announcement reported by Channels TV, Orji stated that the strike has been suspended and work is set to resume at 8 am the following day. The association will conduct a comprehensive review of the progress made within a two-week period.
All doctors have been urged to return to their duties on Saturday, August 12. This decision follows the recent abandonment of plans for a nationwide protest, marking a significant development in the ongoing situation.
NARD's primary demands from the government encompass various aspects, including the recruitment of additional personnel to replace doctors who have either migrated or passed away. Orji emphasized the pressing challenges faced by both doctors and the general public due to inadequate staffing in hospitals, impacting the overall healthcare service delivery system. He questioned the delay in implementing a ministerial committee's guidelines, which were established back in February, highlighting the lack of progress in addressing the doctors' concerns. Orji accused the government of falling short in meeting the demands put forth by the medical community.
Earlier, the union's leadership engaged in discussions with senators, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, seeking resolution to their grievances.
The nationwide strike, initially declared as a "total and indefinite strike action" on July 25, 2023, was driven by a range of issues, including the call for increased wages for doctors.
0 Comments