The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, NARD on Friday, suspended its indefinite nationwide strike.
Sunrise recalls that the doctors had on July 26, 2023, downed tools following the inability of the Federal Government to meet its demands.
NARD is demanding the Review of their Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), the replacement of doctors and nurses that have left the system with new ones, payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), payment of salary arrears, improvement in hazard allowance by state governments, among others.
Sunrise recalls that the resident doctors had planned to embark on protests nationwide, particularly at the Federal Ministry of Health, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation and state tertiary health institutions to further press home their demands.
But the President of NARD, Dr. Emeka Orji told The Nation on Friday night that the strike has been suspended, saying doctors would resume work 8am on Saturday.
He said, “We just suspended the strike. Work resumes at 8 am tomorrow (Saturday). We will review the progress made in 2 weeks.
“Earlier in the week we had an intervention from the Villa, and the same day the Senate President also met with us. In both meetings, the government asked us to give them twenty-four hours to address the urgent demands, at least, for us to see that they are addressing it”.