Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) chapter, yesterday, joined their counterparts nationwide in an indefinite strike over the failure of the government to meet demands of its members.

The development followed the directive by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), led by Dr Emeka Orji, grounding health services at UBTH, as patients were not attended to.

President and Secretary, UBTH chapter of ARD, Dr David Orhewere, and Erah Eugene, respectively, confirmed to The Guardian that their members were obeying a directive by its national leadership.

Some of the demands, according to the doctors, include immediate release of the circular on ONE for ONE replacement of exited clinical staff in various hospitals, immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) and commencement of payment of all salary arrears to its members, as well as hazard allowance arrears and arrears of consequential adjustment of the minimum wage.

The medical association is also demanding immediate implementation of full Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), domestication of Medical Residency Training Act (MRTA)/payment of Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF).

Other demands are the review of hazard allowance by state governments, reversal of the downgrading of membership certificates by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and that CONMESS should be reviewed, in line with full salary restoration based on previous communications with the government.