The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued a two-week ultimatum to the federal government for the implementation of all its demands.
The association said this in a communique issued after its virtual Extraordinary National Executive Council Meeting (E-NEC) on Wednesday.
Some of the demands include massive recruitment of clinical staff in hospitals; immediate infrastructural development in hospitals and an allocation of at least 15 percent of budgetary provisions to health.
Others are immediate payment of the 2023 medical residency training fund (MRTF); and the immediate increment in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) to the tune of 200 percent of the gross salary of doctors.
The association noted that the parameters used in arriving at a demand for minimum of 200 percent increase in CONMESS has significantly changed, following the removal of fuel subsidy and the massive increase in the general cost of living.
NARD also demands payment of the medical residency training fund to our members in the state tertiary health institutions nationwide.
“Since the current economic realities in the country cannot justify the continued payment of CONMESS as it is at the moment or any increment below the 200 per cent as demanded.
” For purposes of emphasis, at the expiration of this further extended ultimatum by July 19, if all these demands are not met, we cannot guarantee industrial harmony in the health sector nationwide.”
“NEC recalls that the conciliatory meeting agreed that the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation will release the implementation guideline on or before June 5 for onward transmission to the Tertiary Hospitals for implementation.
This has not happened till now. Unfortunately, doctors and nurses in these tertiary hospitals continue to break down and suffer burnout effect, assaults and harassment consequent upon the severe manpower shortage occasioned by this.”
The association, however, called for the immediate payment of all outstanding arrears owed its members, including the hazard allowance and the skipping arrears of 2014-2016, and the arrears of consequential adjustment of minimum wage.