Breaking: Resident Doctors Declare Complete Shut Down of Hospitals Nationwide as Details Emerge
- NARD has ordered resident doctors to withdraw services from public hospitals across Nigeria after a 24-hour ultimatum to the federal government expires
- Doctors called for payment of 2025 MRTF, arrears from CONMESS review, specialist allowances, among others
- NARD leaders, including Dr Osundare and Dr Odunbaku, confirmed the strike commenced on Friday morning, September 12, warning further action if demands are unmet
FCT, Abuja – The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has ordered a total withdrawal of services from public hospitals across Nigeria.
This is effective Friday, September 12, following the expiration of a 24-hour ultimatum to the federal government.
Source: Twitter
Resident doctor: Strike follows expired ultimatum
The directive came after a previous 10-day deadline, which lapsed on 10 September without resolution.
Recall that NARD had initially warned on 1 September that it would embark on an indefinite strike should the federal government fail to address its concerns within the timeframe.
As reported by Daily Trust, NARD President, Dr Tope Osundare, said that the new ultimatum was issued following a six-hour virtual meeting of the association’s National Executive Council (NEC) on Wednesday, September 10.
Doctors demand unpaid allowances and salary arrears
The association is calling for immediate payment of the outstanding 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), settlement of five months’ arrears from the 25–35 per cent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) review, and other long-standing salary backlogs, Daily Trust reported.
Other demands include payment of 2024 accoutrement allowance arrears, prompt disbursement of specialist allowances, restoration of recognition of West African postgraduate membership certificates, and issuance of certificates by the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria to eligible candidates.
They also called for the resolution of welfare issues in Kaduna state and for attention to the plight of resident doctors at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso.
FG urged to act immediately
Source: UGC
Dr Osundare said the association appreciated the government’s promise to address their concerns but insisted on immediate action, Punch reported.
He said:
"The Federal Government called us yesterday and promised to address our concerns. We had our meeting and after a six-hour deliberation decided to give the government the next 24 hours to ensure disbursements of MRTF to beneficiaries, for MDCN to upgrade our membership certificates, and attend to our other demands.
"If nothing happens before the end of today (Thursday), we will commence the strike immediately tomorrow (Friday). The government should expedite action on the demands before them."
Strike officially begins
On Friday morning, September 13, Dr Osundare confirmed that the strike had commenced.
"Unfortunately, the minimum demands were not met within the given 24-hour period, and the strike commenced this morning as directed by the NEC of the association," he said.
When asked if the strike was a warning action, he added:
"We will review after the Federal Government has done the needful."
Similarly, NARD Secretary-General, Dr Oluwasola Odunbaku, in a message titled “Declaration of strike action,” confirmed the commencement of the strike:
"Good morning, NEC members, thank you all for your continued cooperation and understanding. As clearly stated in our earlier communique, the strike is scheduled to commence at 8:00 am today (Friday). All Centre leadership is expected to guide their members accordingly. Further updates will be communicated to NEC members in due course," he said.
FCT resident doctors go on strike
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previosuly reported that the Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory (ARD-FCT), has commenced its seven-day warning strike.
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) disclosed this in a communique issued by its president, Dr George Ebong, joined by other executive members.
Source: Legit.ng
