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  • Strike by Resident Doctors Poised to End Following Senate Intervention

    Strike by Resident Doctors Poised to End Following Senate Intervention

    Striking members of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) are set to call off their two-week-old strike after a closed-door meeting with the leadership of the Senate on Tuesday evening.

    Adressing journalists shortly after the closed-door meeting with President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and other Principal Officers of the Senate, national president of NARD, Dr Emeka Innocent Orji, stated that: “We had a very fruitful meeting with the Senate led by the President of the Senate and from our discussions with them, we are very hopeful that when we table our discussions today before the NEC, something positive would come out.

    “From our interaction with the President of the Senate and the practical demonstration he did before us today, we are very confident that there would be light at the end of the tunnel in the next 24 hours.

    “Because of the intervention of the President of the Senate, who is the number three citizen and the assurance he has given us, our planned national protest has been cancelled while the decision on the ongoing strike would be taken as soon we meet.”

    Speaking in the same vein, Senate President Akpabio thanked the medical doctors for honouring the Senate by calling off their planned nationwide protest and also working towards calling off the ongoing strike action.

    “I thank you on behalf of the Senate for honouring us with your decision not only to cancel the planned public protest but to also call off the strike in the interest of the suffering masses.

    “Your demands are well noted, and let me assure you that as soon as a Minister in charge of Health is appointed, the Senate will work with him or her to expeditiously address all your grievances. The President Bola Tinubu-led administration is Doctors-friendly and that explains the large number of medical practitioners he has appointed into his cabinet.

    “Strike by medical practitioners should not be allowed even for a day because of the impact it creates in the polity and that is why the Senate is determined to ensure through interactions and consultation with relevant offices, amicable settlement of the impasse is reached,” Akpabio stated.

  • 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 Suspend Strike

    Resident Doctors Suspend Strike

    The leadership of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its one-week warning strike which it embarked upon on Wednesday, May 17.

    President of the association, Dr. Emeka Orji disclosed that the association suspended the action for two weeks after reaching some agreement with the government on Friday.

    He, however, stated that the doctors will meet again on the second day of June this year to review progress made with the agreement signed after which the association will decide on their next line of action.

    Details Later…

  • FG Kicks As Resident Doctors Declare Warning Strike

    FG Kicks As Resident Doctors Declare Warning Strike

    Worried by the alleged failure of the Federal Government to meet its demand, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on Monday declared a five-day warning strike.

    Reliable reports have it that the industrial action will commence on Wednesday, May 17, and end on Monday, May 22.

    The decision to down tool was taken after the doctors’ extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held virtually on Monday.

    President of NARD, Dr Emeka Orji, confirmed the incident to Channels Television via a WhatsApp message.

    He, however, promised to make a press conference on Tuesday, May 16, saying a press statement will be made available to journalists also.

    The resident doctors have been at loggerheads with the Federal Government over poor remuneration, and better welfare for their members among other concerns.

    They are demanding an immediate increment in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure to the tune of 200 per cent of the current gross salary of doctors and the new allowances included in the letter written by the association to the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, on July 7, 2022, on the review of CONMESS.

    On April 29, the association issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to implement the agreements or face industrial action.

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    But reacting to the planned industrial action by the aggrieved resident doctors, the Federal Government described the move as unnecessary.

    Briefing journalists in Abuja after a special Federal Executive Council meeting, the Labour Minister, Dr Chris Ngige said the parent body of the association – the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) – is already engaging with relevant government agencies on the issue.

    “On the demand for 200 per cent salary increase, the NMA is the father of all doctors in Nigeria and they have about four or five affiliates of which the resident doctors is an association affiliating there,” he stated.

    “You have the Medical and Dental Consultants Association (MEDIAN), they are the consultants who are training these medical doctors to become specialists. You also have a general medical practitioners association and you also have doctors working in the private sector.

    “So, NMA is the father of all including me. So, NMA is discussing with the Federal Ministry of Health, salaries income and wages commission, and the Ministry of Labour and we know that NMA has accepted a salary increase between 25 and 30 per cent across the board for their members.

    “So, I don’t know the logic by which people who are members of NMA are now coming up to say pay us 200 per cent increase. I don’t understand it.

    “I have called the NMA President to contact them because, on the issue of remuneration negotiation, it’s NMA that the government deals with. So, I have told the President of NMA to contact them, and we will engage them. They should not go on any strike, it’s not necessary.”

  • Resident Doctors Give FG Two-Week Ultimatum Over Welfare Demands

    Resident Doctors Give FG Two-Week Ultimatum Over Welfare Demands

    The National Association of Resident Doctors have given the Federal Government two weeks to implement agreements concerning their welfare or face industrial disharmony.

    The association gave the the ultimatum after their National Executive Council meeting which held in Lafia, Nasarawa.

    In a communique signed by NARD President, Dr Dare Godiya Ishaya, the doctors said they would reconvene in two weeks to review the progress made so far, as it relates to their demands.

    They vowed to “take further actions for which nationwide industrial harmony may not be guaranteed.”

    The doctors are asking the Federal Government to expedite action on the payment of the newly reviewed Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) so its members can meet up with the closing date of examination registration as advertised by the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN).

    They are also demanding the immediate implementation and payment of the new Hazard Allowance and arrears as contained in the circular from the
    National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC).

    Other demands include the payment of the skipping arrears for 2014, 2015 and 2016 to deserving members and immediate payment of consequential adjustment of minimum wage to its members who have not benefitted since it was implemented several years ago.

    The doctors are demanding an immediate review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and other related allowances given the current economic situation in the country, and also in line with the agreed terms from the previous Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that it will be
    reviewed regularly.

  • BREAKING: Court Orders Resident Doctors To Suspend Industrial Action

    BREAKING: Court Orders Resident Doctors To Suspend Industrial Action

    The National Industrial Court has ordered resident doctors to suspend their strike action and go back to work immediately, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

    All parties have also been asked to return to the negotiating table.

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

    The court held that there is no amount of money that will compensate for the loss of lives in the circumstances.

    Counsel to the Federal Government, Mr Tochukwu Maduka, had moved his motion for interlocutory injunction and prayed the court for an order restraining the defendant from continuing with the industrial action pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

    He argued that the resident doctors are persons who provide essential services and cannot embark on strike as continuing to do so will wreak hardship on citizens.

    Counsel to the resident doctors, Femi Aborishade, vehemently opposed the application for interlocutory injunction and urged the court to discountenance their application.

    He argued that the life of a medical doctor is not less useful than the life of an average human being.

    He further pointed out that justice must be balanced, not just to the government, but also to the doctors who are the field marshals in the face of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

    Both parties had told the vacation judge, Justice Bashar Alkali, at the industrial court, on September 15, that they were set to negotiate and give the court an update by Friday.

    But the process of negotiation and possible settlement failed.

    Speaking shortly after the court ruling, however, the counsel to the doctors said he would advise them accordingly and show them other options of appeal, but they would not disobey court orders.

  • Lagos State Doctors Shelve Strike as Gov Meets Demands

    Lagos State Doctors Shelve Strike as Gov Meets Demands

    Following agreements reached with the state government yesterday, medical doctors in Lagos who have been part of the nationwide strike action called by the Nation Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) will resume duties immediately, the state government has said.

    The government in a statement signed by its Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has met some of the requests of the issues which led the NARD to embark on the industrial action since last month.

    According to the statement, Sanwo-Olu got the doctors’ union leaders smiling after a meeting at his office at Alausa, Ikeja where he told them that there was no need to have joined the strike in solidarity with their colleagues in other places because the state government had performed its duties to them.

    He said among the issues discussed was the circular issued by the Head of Service (HOS) removing Housemanship and NYSC Doctors from the Scheme of Service.

    The residents appealed to the Lagos Governor to revoke or suspend the circular. The HOS explained the importance of domesticating decisions made at the federal level.

    “The Medical Residency Training Act, which makes provision for sponsorship of Resident Doctors training to be Specialists in Federal or State Medical Schools was also discussed. Mr Governor in April had approved for the state government to fully sponsor Resident Doctors in the State (100% of the fund). He further directed full implementation of the state’s support of both the exams and update courses that lead to qualification as specialists in various fields of medicine.

    “Mr Governor approved the recruitment of over 150 new resident doctors and medical officers to reduce the human resource deficit in the public service of the state to improve the patient-doctor ratio in the state hospitals.

    “Mr Governor approved the commencement of the building of the Medical Residents Quarters at LASUTH as well as other medical staff quarters across the State.

    “On the discrepancy between the remuneration packages of the state and federal doctors in the public service, Mr. Governor approved the final tranche of 25 per cent difference to complete the harmonisation.”

    The meeting was with members of the Lagos State Medical Guild, including executives of the Lagos State branch of the Association of Residents Doctors (ARD). Besides, Governor Sanwo-Olu, others government officials were the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat; Head of Service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola; Health Commissioner, Prof Akin Abayomi, the Chief Medical Director ( CMD) LASUTH, Prof, O. Fabanwo and Health Service Commission (HSC) Chairman Dr Atinuke Onaiga and Dr Sodipo Oluwajimi, Chairman Medical Guild and Dr Ajibowo Ismail, Secretary Medical Guild,

    On the other hands, the doctors in attendant were: Dr. Sodipo Oluwajimi – Chairman Medical Guild; Dr Ajibowo Ismail – Secretary Medical Guild; Dr. Ojekunle Azeez – President ARD, Dr Salmon Abeeb LASUTH Oladapo – Secretary LASUTH Association of Resident Doctors.

  • We Will Withdraw Court Case If You Go Back To Work, FG Tells Striking Doctors

    We Will Withdraw Court Case If You Go Back To Work, FG Tells Striking Doctors

    The Federal Government is ready to withdraw the case instituted against the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) if striking doctors return to work.

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, said this on Sunday after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

    “I have briefed Mr President, we have agreed that they should come back to work and if they come back to work, we can take other things from there. We will withdraw the case in court,” Ngige said.

    “So, this is where we are with them and we are saying that even if anybody cares to put it in any agreement, that clause will be void ab initio because it’s against the law of the land and we will not, as a government, succumb to undue arm twisting and then go and sign that.”

    The Minister explained that some workers had lost their pay during previous strikes (under the “no work, no pay” rule) and the same punishment will be meted out to the striking doctors if they refuse to resume.

    “Other workers have lost their pay during strikes; the Joint Health Systems Union (JOHESU), they lost their pay in 2018 when they went on four months strike; they lost about two or three months’ pay when the no-work, no-pay rule was invoked,” the minister said, adding that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) suffered the same fate last year.

    “Nobody paid them (ASUU) anything for six months and it was during COVID-19. So, we can handle things administratively, but nobody should arm-twist,” he said.

    The Minister also revealed that a list of 8,000 doctors to benefit from the Medical Residency Training Fund is being considered by the government.

  • STRIKE: FG Rejects 21-Day Ultimatum Issued By NMA

    STRIKE: FG Rejects 21-Day Ultimatum Issued By NMA

    The Ministry of Labour and Employment has rejected the 21-day ultimatum given to the Federal Government by the Nigeria Medical Association saying it is in direct collision with the Memorandum of Understanding signed on August 21.

    The NMA had threatened to join the ongoing strike by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors if the government failed to resolve all the issues contained in the various agreements signed with its affiliate unions.

    But reacting on Sunday evening, to the threat in a statement titled, ‘Labour Ministry to NMA: Your 21-Day Ultimatum in Collision With Our MoU,’ the government argued that the NMA’s position was at variance with the timeline stated in the Memorandum of Agreement.

    This ultimatum was part of the resolutions reached during its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, held in Benin City last week.

    “After due consideration, NEC put the Federal Government on a 21 days’ notice to fully resolve all the issues contained in the various agreements signed with Affiliate members of the Nigerian Medical Association (including MDCAN, MEDSABAMS, and NARD),” the statement jointly signed by its President, Prof Innocent AO Ujah and Secretary, Dr. Philips Uche Ekpe, read.

    According to the doctors, if the Federal Government fails to implement the agreements after the expiration of the 21- day notice, the NMA will summon an emergency delegate meeting.

    NMA’s ultimatum is the latest in the lingering tussle between the Nigerian government and NARD which has gone on strike since July 31.

    Despite a series of meetings between the Federal Government and the striking doctors, no resolution has been reached.

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, had in the wake of the disagreements threatened to invoke the “no-work, no pay” rule on NARD.

    But the NMA has thrown its weight behind the striking doctors and other health workers.

    “The Nigerian Medical Association fully supports all her affiliates in their efforts to improve the healthcare delivery in Nigeria and the welfare of her members,” it assured.