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  • NARD Strike: NMA Urges FG To Resolve All Disputes

    NARD Strike: NMA Urges FG To Resolve All Disputes

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) as the umbrella body for the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, has urged the Federal Government to resolve all disagreement between the doctors and the government to avoid the impending strikes and other disputes.

    The NMA President, Dr. Uche Ojinmah in a press release made this call today ahead of the NARD faceoff and nationwide strike slated to commence Wednesday.

    We hereby call on our Government to quickly conclude measures to resolve all areas of disagreement and eschew all punitive responses in the interest of industrial harmony, NMA stated.

    The umbrella body of doctors in Nigeria also appealed to its members to follow the path of peace by extending a gesture of goodwill towards the Government in the interest of suffering patients and fellow citizens.

    ‘Let’s put aside all obstacles (contrived or real) towards speedy resolution of this dispute for the love of the Nation.”

    “It is our belief that this avoidable labour dispute has gone on for far too long to the detriment of the common Nigerian citizen.”

    The association said it has to meddle in the dispute because of its policy to protect and promote the interest of its members.

  • Again, NARD threatens daily protest , picketing of all health facilities nationwide

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    In a bid to press home their demands, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors have issued a dual threat to begin a daily peaceful protest and to picket all health institutions at the federal and states levels.

    In a notice signed by the NARD President, Dr. Orji Emeka Innocent and the Secretary General , Dr. Chikezie Kelechi, issued to newsmen ahead of the nationwide protests stated that it takes effect from Wednesday, 9thAugust 2023 at 10:00am.

    NARD stated that it would embark on a daily peaceful protests and picketing of the Federal Ministry of Health, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, as well as all federal and state tertiary health institutions nationwide.

    According to the doctors, again, the protest became necessary to press home their demands which have been
    largely neglected by our parent ministry and the federal government.

    The notice read,” We are pained that rather than make genuine and concerted efforts to resolve the challenges that led to the industrial action despite repeated ultimatums, our parent ministry and the federal government have chosen to demonize the Nigerian resident doctors instead, after all their sacrifices and patriotism.”

    “We therefore resolved that it is time the whole world hears our side of the story – the decay and corruption in the health sector as well as the neglect the public health institutions have suffered all these years that led to repeated industrial actions.”

    “We believe that the government still has time to genuinely address the issues
    at stake before Wednesday, 9th August 2023, or leave us with no other option.

  • Resident Doctors Down Tools In Kogi, Joins NARD Strike

    From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Kogi State Specialist Hospital (KSSH) Lokoja, has expressed its readiness to join the ongoing nationwide strike by NARD due to failure of Kogi State Government to meet any of their demands.

    The Association disclosed this in a Communique issued at the end of its Emergency Executive Council meeting on Thursday in Lokoja.

    The communique which was signed by ARD KSSH’s President and Secretary General, Dr Ameh Friday, and Dr Peter Samuel, respectively, said the association would join the nationwide strike by the NARD with effect from Friday Noon 1200hrs, July 28, 2023 pending the intervention of the State Government in addressing their lingering demands.

    “First and foremost, we wish to acknowledge the efforts of his Excellency Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello in repositioning the Health Sector within the State i.e. The Kogi State Specialist Hospital KSSH interilia.”

    “We also wish to observe without any contradiction that the Kogi State Specialist Hospital KSSH is the only Tertiary hospital who remained on duty despite the National Directive for all healthcare facilities to proceed on industrial action as occasioned by both the Doctors Strike Action (previously and currently on-going) and subsequently by JOHESU in the very recent past.

    “We wish to put it on record that Members of ARD – KSSH have at countless times in the lifespan of this current administration in the State and in the supreme interest of the healthcare needs of Kogians suspended joining industrial action that will affect the quality-of-service delivery in the Hospital.”

    “This action has positively rubs off on all those passing through the state for one reason or the other and who will need healthcare services.”

    “We also wish to state unequivocally that in the face of the massive Exodus of our members from the State Specialist hospital due to issues bordering on renumeration and basic welfare concerns we have remained in the employ of the state Government and continued to provide quality Medical/Surgical Service.”

    “The current wave of Doctor movement from the employment of the State Government to other centers is predicated on the non – implementation of the 1st, June CONMESS 2023 salary structure for our members.”

    “The congress observed with dismay the non domestication and implementation of Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF 2020-2023) by Kogi State Government despite all efforts by ARD KSSH.

    “The delays in payment of Salaries, non – implementation of annual increments, cash-backing of promotion and payment of arrears of both annual increment and Promotion.”

    “The non – implementation of Hazard allowance and arrears of same for our members as is obtainable in all other Sister Tertiary institution’s.”

    “Failure to implement Minimum wage for our members despite domestication, implementation and payment of arrears by other Sister Tertiary institutions within the North-Central Zone.”

    “Failure to implement 6 months Covid inducement allowance as was implemented for all states in the North central during the lockdown period.”

    “Continuous Exit of Doctors from the state work force to FTHL and other places due to better wages and worker friendly policies.”

    “The grim reality of basic obligations been unable to be met by our members due to the unsavory and worker hostile economic realities with regards to the skyrocketing cost of living in Kogi and environs without any palliatives to cushion the effects of the Fuel hike among others.

    “Failure to Employ/Replace Doctors due to the severely reduced manpower in the Kogi State Specialist Hospital in all Clinical Departments by Government.

    “Failure to Implement 40% of basic as a cushion, to the net salary as has been domesticated by all Federal institutions and several States Governments i.e Borno, Yobe, Lagos. Etc for their workers.

    The association, therefore resolved that: “Having examined the aforementioned observations critically, keeping in view our previous failure to Join the National Directive to suspend service delivery because of our commitment to the client and State Government which ‘sadly has never been appreciated’, the Congress of ARD Kogi State Specialist Hospital, Lokoja (KSSH) states as follows:

    “We shall Join the NARD Strike with effect from Friday Noon 1200hrs 28th July 2023 pending the intervention of the State Government in addressing all the issues raised under Observationsas itemized above.

  • Resident Doctors Declares “Indefinite Strike” Nationwide

    The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has declared a “total and indefinite strike action”.

    The association revealed this in a terse statement made available to Channels Television on Tuesday evening.

    The resident doctors listed their demands to include the immediate payment of the 2023 MRTF, the immediate release of the circular on one-for-one replacement, and the payment of skipping arrears.

    The list also noted the upward review of CONMESS in line with full salary restoration to the 2014 value of CONMESS, the payment of the arrears of consequential adjustment of minimum to the omitted doctors, and the reversal of the downgrading of the membership certificate by MDCN,

    Other demands are the payment of MRTF, new hazard allowance, skipping and implementation of corrected CONMESS in State Tertiary Health Institutions, and the payment of omitted hazard allowance arrears.

    The strike comes after the association on July 5 issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government for the implementation of all its demands.

    In an attempt to avert the strike, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, on Monday, held deliberations with the leadership of NARD behind closed doors.

    Following the private talks, Abbas promised to meet with President Bola Tinubu to avert the industrial action of the resident doctors and announced the setup of an ad hoc committee to meet with all the stakeholders and address the matter.

    The Speaker also appealed to NARD to give the house leadership a two-week period to find solutions to the issues raised.

  • Resident Doctors Extend Ultimatum to Nigerian Government for Salary Increment

    Resident Doctors Extend Ultimatum to Nigerian Government for Salary Increment

    The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced a two-week extension to their ultimatum for the implementation of a 200 percent increase in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS). The initial ultimatum has already expired, and the extension will be effective from July 5, 2023.

    NARD is also demanding a review of associated allowances, stating that the current economic situation in the country does not justify the current payment structure of CONMESS or any increment below the demanded 200 percent. In a communique issued after an Extra-Ordinary National Executive Council meeting, the medical doctors emphasized that if their demands are not met by July 19, 2023, they cannot guarantee industrial harmony in the health sector nationwide.

    The communique, signed by NARD’s President Secretary-General, Dr. Emeka Orji, the Publicity, Dr. Chikezie Kelechi, and the Social Secretary, Dr. Umar Musa, revealed that the decision to extend the ultimatum was made after assessing the level of implementation of the memorandum of understanding signed with the government on May 19, 2023. The assessment took into account the five-day warning strike conducted by the Association on May 17, 2023, as well as other welfare issues concerning their members.

    The doctors are also calling for the immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) in line with the approved 2023 budget and the agreements reached with the government. They have urged the government to promptly settle all outstanding arrears, including hazard allowances, skipping arrears from 2014-2016, and arrears related to the consequential adjustment of the minimum wage.

    Furthermore, NARD demands the release and implementation of guidelines for the one-for-one replacement of clinical staff to address the severe manpower shortage in hospitals nationwide. They also called on the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to halt the downgrading of membership certificates issued by the West African Postgraduate Medical and Surgical colleges.

    The communique expressed disappointment over the non-implementation of the resolutions from the conciliatory meeting, which has been pending for seven weeks since the end of the warning strike. The doctors are particularly concerned about the delayed release of the circular on one-for-one replacement of clinical staff and the dire conditions faced by their members in state tertiary health institutions across the country, including Abia, Imo, Benue, Nassarawa, Kwara, Bayelsa, Ogun, and the Federal Capital Territory.

  • NARD gives FG ultimatum to resolve lingering payment issues or face Nationwide chaos in health sector

    NARD gives FG ultimatum to resolve lingering payment issues or face Nationwide chaos in health sector

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, has warned of an imminent industrial disharmony in the health sector if the Federal Government fails to resolve the myriad of lingering CONMESS payment and other related issues affecting it’s members.

    This was contained in a letter from NARD to the Munister of Health Dr. Ehanire Osagie and other key government Ministeries.

    The Association stated that the warning was in view of an ultimatum issued to the Federal six months ago concerning lingering unresolved issues affecting it’s members which includes delay in the upward review if the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, CONMESS,, review of Medical Residency Training Fund, MRTF, Outstanding payment of arrears of the new hazard allowance.

    Other grievances include non payment of the skipping arrears for 2014, 2015 and 2016, non-payment of the consequential adjustment of minimum wage to some of members.

    Salary arrears of our members in State Tertiary Health Institutions running into several months, including Abia, Imo, Ondo, Ekiti and Gombe States, and non-domestication of the Medical Residency Training Act (MRTA) in most states across the Federation.

    According to NARD these unresolved issues have now become sources of serious nationwide agitation threatening industrial peace and harmony in the health sector.

    The Resident Doctors appealed to the Federal Government to take the necessary steps to resolve the issues bedeviling to health sector before it’s January 2023 National Executive Council Meeting slated for 24th to 28th or face an immediate Nationwide industrial disharmony in the health sector.

  • NARD Directs Resident Doctors To Resume Work Fully On Wednesday

    NARD Directs Resident Doctors To Resume Work Fully On Wednesday

    The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has directed its members across the country to resume work fully from Wednesday.

    President of the association, Dr Dare Godiya Ishaya, announced this on Monday while briefing reporters in Abuja following the suspension of the strike by resident doctors which lasted two months.

    He explained that the association took the decision to suspend the industrial action due to a simple majority vote of members at a meeting held on Sunday.

    Ishaya, however, stated that the strike has been suspended for six weeks to allow the Federal Government to address the issues raised by the doctors.

    He said while most of the issues that led to the nationwide strike still remained unaddressed, the association decided to suspend the action for the period because of interventions from the President, the National Assembly, and the leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).

    DAYBREAK had reported the suspension of industrial action by the association.

    The strike, which began on August 2 to protest the issues affecting members, has left many patients helpless in government-owned hospitals within the period.

    These include the non-payment of death benefits to families of members who died while treating COVID-19 patients, as well as non-payment of hazard allowance and arrears of salaries of members in various states.

    On its part, the government had convened several meetings with the association, in a bid to get the doctors back to work.

    But the action of the government has failed to resolve the impasse with both parties trading accusations in the media, leading to a suit filed at the National Industrial Court in Abuja.

    Justice Bashar Alkali, who presided over the matter, ordered the resident doctors to suspend their strike and return to work immediately, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

    He directed parties in the matter to return to the negotiating table, saying no amount of money could compensate for the loss of lives as a result of the impasse.

    Rather than ask members to return to their duty posts, NARD instructed its lawyers to file necessary processes to appeal the ruling.

  • Go Back To Work While We Continue Negotiations, Ngige Urges Striking Doctors

    Go Back To Work While We Continue Negotiations, Ngige Urges Striking Doctors

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige has appealed to the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to shelve their industrial action as the Federal Government continues to negotiate with the union to end the dispute.

    Ngige made the appeal during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, as the resident doctors strike enters Day 59.

    “I want to appeal to NARD for them to reconsider their position, get back to work tomorrow or next and then come back again for discussions. We have so many things to discuss,” Ngige said.

    “I have nephews who are resident doctors. I have three of them at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, UNTH Enugu, Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu. I have so many of them. I have a son who will graduate in Medicine in October. I cannot destroy the profession, I have to protect the profession too.”

    The Minister also reacted to the court case filed by the Federal Government against the striking doctors.

    According to Ngige, it is the Federal Ministry of Health and the office of the Attorney General of the Federation that can withdraw the case from court.

    “The court has ruled and said ‘Go and do some more settlement but meanwhile, you go back to work and continue the settlement’,” he added.

    Despite the National Industrial Court’s ruling ordering the striking doctors to return to work, the Minister asked the plaintiffs – Health Ministry and Attorney General’s office as well as the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and NARD to approach the Labour Ministry to press their demands.

    While noting that he had advised his colleague in the Health Ministry, Dr Osagie Ehanire “to see what he can do so that the discussion will set off,” Ngige said he had always advocated for settlement.

    Ngige’s comments come two days after the National Industrial Court ordered resident doctors to suspend their strike action and go back to work, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

    Justice Bashar Alkali gave the order on Friday while ruling on an application by the Federal Government.

    But the striking doctors have faulted the court’s ruling, vowing to appeal the order.

    “As we are all aware, especially those that were present in court today (Friday), the NIC has given a ruling on the application for interlocutory injunction filed by the Federal Government,” the association said via a statement. “We are not satisfied with the ruling.

    “After consultations with our lawyers, we have instructed our lawyers to appeal the ruling and file an application for stay of execution.”

  • ‘We Are Not Satisfied,’ NARD Appeals Court Ruling Directing Doctors To Resume

    ‘We Are Not Satisfied,’ NARD Appeals Court Ruling Directing Doctors To Resume

    The leadership of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has faulted the ruling of the National Industrial Court (NIC) directing its members to return to work.

    A communique jointly signed by NARD President, Dr Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi, and the union’s Secretary-General, Dr Jerry Isogun, on Friday revealed that the doctors have begun the process to appeal the ruling.

    “As we are all aware, especially those that were present in court today (Friday), the NIC has given a ruling on the application for interlocutory injunction filed by the Federal Government,” the statement said. “We are not satisfied with the ruling.

    “After consultations with our lawyers, we have instructed our lawyers to appeal the ruling and file an application for stay of execution.”

    The statement is in reaction to the ruling of Justice Bashar Alkali who ordered the resident doctors to suspend their ongoing industrial action and return to work immediately, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

    Justice Alkali who ruled on an application by the government had also directed parties in the matter to return to the negotiating table, saying no amount of money could compensate for the loss of lives as a result of the impasse.

    Fair Hearing Denied?

    In demonstration of its displeasure with the decision of the court, NARD instructed its lawyers to file necessary processes, rather than ask members to return to their duty posts.

    It also asked the doctors to remain calm and resolute, saying “everything depends on our firm resolve.”

    “We are committed to protecting your rights within the confines of the law. We believe justice shall be ours ultimately,” the union told its members.

    It stated that the court had reserved ruling on which application it would take first on Wednesday, and its lawyers argued that the court ought to hear and determine the Notice of Preliminary Objection (NPO) filed by the doctors to challenge the jurisdiction of the court before taking the application for an interlocutory injunction or any other application.

    The union added that the court adjourned ruling on the argument on the matter until Friday, after which it ruled that it would take the government’s application for interlocutory injunction first while its NPO would be taken and determined along with the substantive suit.

    “Also, our lawyers drew the attention of the court to our application for stay of execution of the ex parte order and that the court should take that application first. The court insisted that the government application would be taken first.

    “On 15/9/21, the court ordered all parties to resume negotiations. The government refused to resume negotiations in line with the order of 23/8/21. Our lawyers reported this development to the court. We have demonstrated good faith and would continue to do so,” the statement said.

    NARD accused the court of denial of a fair hearing by refusing to hear and determine its NPO before taking the government’s application for interlocutory injunction.

  • Buhari Appeal to Striking Doctors to Resume Work

    Buhari Appeal to Striking Doctors to Resume Work

    President Muhammadu Buhari has called on the health workers to return to their duty posts, urging others contemplating strikes, to opt for settlement of issues by negotiation, no matter how long it takes.

    The President made the call when he received members of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), at the Presidential Villa Abuja.

    He said that the lives of the citizens that will be lost or damaged when doctors withdraw services, are precious enough and worth opting for peaceful resolution of differences.

    President Buhari assured that, all outstanding benefits owed medical doctors will be cleared, after verifications, noting that embarking on industrial action at a critical health period for the country and citizens, was not a good option.

    President Buhari said the outstanding issue of an Establishment circular issued by the Head of Service, removing House officers, NYSC Doctors from the scheme of service, had an addendum circular from the National Salaries and Wages Commission, to clarify that they will continue to earn the wages attached to them on their present wage structure.

    To further improve the health sector, the President said that budgetary allocations had been increased and a Health Sector Reform Committee, under the Chairmanship of the Vice President, had been commissioned to identify and address weaknesses in the Health System and align with global best practices that will enhance public confidence.

    The President noted that Nigeria’s source of revenue over the years has dwindled, with a rising population.

    The President commended the positive role the Nigeria Medical Association has been playing, as the apex professional medical association in Nigeria, especially with regard to the ongoing industrial action.

    President Buhari added that the course of Covid-19 in Nigeria was not yet entirely clear, and response to it must be collective.

    In his remarks, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said that the NMA had been playing a critical role in the development of the health sector, particularly in tackling pandemics, participating in policy formulation and population health.

    In his response the President of the NMA, Prof. Innocent A. Ujah, thanked President Buhari, for the appointment of members into strategic positions in government, assent to the Medical Residency Act and the immunisation coverage.

    Ujah said the association was concerned with the industrial action embarked upon by doctors, and had been doing its best to alleviate the suffering of patients across the country, while appealing for an urgent resolution.

    The NMA president thanked President Buhari, for takeoff grant for the first Federal University of Health Sciences in Otukpo, Benue State, Azare, Bauchi State and Ila Orangun, Osun State and suggested an appropriate funding module for the new institutions.

    The NMA leader assured the President of the continuous support of members of the association, to improve health in the country.