There is an impending indefinite nationwide strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) from Monday 7th September, 2020.

In a communique issued at the end of the Virtual National Executive Council Meeting of the association, it demanded immediate payment of the Medical Residency Training allowances to its members.

They also demand “Provision of genuine Group life insurance and death in service benefits for all health workers. Payment of the outstanding April/May and June COVID-19 inducement allowance to all health workers.

“Determination of the revised hazard allowance for all health workers as agreed in previous meetings with relevant stakeholders. Immediate payment of the salary shortfalls of 2014, 2015 and 2016.

“Doctors working under the various tertiary health institutions to be placed on appropriate salary grade level and universal implementation of the Medical Residency Training Act of 2017 in all State tertiary health institutions and payment of all arrears owed our members in Federal and States tertiary health institutions, arising from the consequential adjustment of the National minimum wage.”

The association decried lack of commitment by the FGN to implement the payment despite several promises by several stakeholders, regardless of the inclusion of the residency funding in the revised 2020 budget.

NARD laments the FGN’s indifference to the procurement Group Life Insurance and Death-in-service benefits for health workers.