National Association of Resident Doctors may embark on a nationwide strike if the Federal Government fails to accede to the demands of its members at the expiration of the two-week ultimatum already issued to the government.
NARD President, Dr Dare Ishaya, disclosed this on Monday.
The resident doctors’ ultimatum is coming just as the Academic Staff Union of Universities extended its five months strike by another four weeks.
Ishaya gave the hint while speaking on an interview programme on Channels Television, Sunrise Daily.
On Saturday, NARD issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to implement the new national minimum wage and hazard allowance, among others.
The ultimatum was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of NARD’s July National Executive Council meeting and Scientific Conference.
The communique read, “The NEC observed with dismay, the unnecessary delay in the implementation and payment of the new Hazard Allowance for over seven (7) months since its approval on 22nd December 2021 in a circular with reference No. SWC/S/04/S.218/11/406.
“The NEC observed that the skipping arrears covering 2014, 2015 and 2016 have remained unpaid despite several negotiations with the Federal Government over the matter.”
The NARD President told Channels Television that the association would have gone on strike immediately, adding that it wanted to give the government the time to meet the needs of its members before downing tools.
Ishaya said, “Last year, following our strike, we had a lot of engagements with the government regarding the hazard allowance which was one of our cardinal demands that led to the last year’s strike.
“After several interfaces with the government, eventually the government unilaterally came up with hazard allowance that was apportioned to the various cadre of healthcare workers.
“It was resolved that we should accept it the way it was but to our dismay, the National Executive Council reviewed the situation and it was discovered that seven months later, this new hazard allowance has not been implemented.”
Warning of an imminent strike, Ishaya said, “At the end of the two-week ultimatum, we are going to review the position.
“We could come up with a communiqué praising the efforts of the government towards resolving these issues. Strike is usually the last thing the resident doctors always contemplate. Recall our strike was only suspended. If we were strike mongers, we would have, arising from that NEC meeting, proceeded on indefinite strike.”
