Strike: Resident doctors extend ultimatum to FG by two weeks

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on Sunday shifted its decision on the ultimatum it issued to the Federal Government by two weeks.

NARD reached this decision during the scheduled extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Kwara State, which lasted Saturday night.

In a communique dated August 21, NARD President, Dr. Dare Ishaya, said the decision was to give room for intervention by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

“The E-NEC resolves to further extend our ultimatum by another two weeks after observing the Federal Government’s efforts as a show of goodwill from NARD,” the communique read.

“This we believe will give the Federal Government adequate time to substantiate their efforts with results which will avert industrial disharmony.”

NARD had on July 30, issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to implement all the agreements it had with the association or it would embark on an indefinite strike.

Their demands include the payment of the newly-reviewed Medical Residency Training Fund; the immediate implementation and payment of the new hazard allowance and arrears among several others.

NARD had at the expiration of the ultimatum on August 14, shifted its decision till after its extraordinary NEC meeting.

It is hopeful that the shift in the ultimatum will enable the Federal Government to address the resident doctors’ concerns to avert a crisis in the nation’s health sector.

Speaking with newsmen, Ishaya said: “The extraordinary NEC resolved that since the Ministry of Health through the Minister of State for Health, Ekumankama Joseph Nkama, has communicated to the Ministry of Finance to release the funds for the payment of the new hazard allowance and the Medical Residency Training Fund, we should give two more weeks to observe and see the rate at which our issues will receive the attention of the authorities concerned.

“After then, we will now make a comprehensive decision. So we are extending our ultimatum by two weeks.”

“The other issues raised are still there but we have seen some moves towards resolving them and we want to give more time to see how it turns with the help of the Minister of State for Health and Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, so we want to give them more time to intervene.”