National Association of Resident Doctors, on Monday, threatened to embark on a warning strike over the failure of the Federal Government to meet its demands.
NARD President, Orji Innocent, said that the strike will commence at 8am on Wednesday, May 17, and end on Monday, May 22, at 8am.
Innocent said the association took the decision to go on a warning strike after a meeting of its extraordinary National Executive Council on Monday.
NARD had earlier threatened to down tools if the Federal Government failed to meet its demands within two weeks.
It stated that the government refused to negotiate with the association or take tangible steps on the “upward review” of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).
NARD also accused the Federal Government of refusing to pay the salary arrears of 2014, 2015 and 2016 to resident doctors.
Communique from the association’s meeting further stated, “NEC observed that despite several engagements by NARD with the government on the need to upwardly review the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) which was last reviewed over ten years ago, Government has neither called NARD to the negotiation table nor taken any tangible step in addressing the issue.
“NEC recalled that there have been previous ultimatums issued to the government by NARD on account of this problem of the review of the CONMESS salary structure.
“NEC also reiterated that the previous collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on CONMESS stated clearly that the salary structure would be due for review after five years, but this has not been done since the implementation in 2014, though the approval was given in 2009.
“NEC demands an immediate increment in the CONMESS salary structure to the tune of 200% of the current gross salary of doctors in addition to the new allowances included in the letter written by NARD to the honourable minister of health on the 7th of July 2022 for the review of CONMESS.
“NEC demands immediate massive recruitment of clinical staff in the hospitals and complete abolishment of bureaucratic limitations to the immediate replacement of doctors who leave the system.”
NARD also condemned the bill seeking to mandate medical and dental practitioners to practice for five years before relocating abroad.