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  • NARD kicks over sack of Resident Doctors

    NARD kicks over sack of Resident Doctors

    The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has condemned the sack of some of its members by the management of the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, Kaduna.

    The leader of the North-West Zonal chapter, Dr Abbas Ajayi, told NAN on Wednesday in Kaduna that the sack was unwarranted and unexpected.

    Recall that the management of the hospital on Monday terminated the appointment of the resident doctors in a letter signed by the Director of Administration. Illiyasu Yusuf.

    The management claimed that the resident doctors had exceeded their allowable duration of training and had reportedly shown lack of academic progress.

    This, the management maintained, was as it was stipulated in Sections 2 and 3 of the regulations governing residency training programme of the hospital without demonstrating progress.

    The letter also urged the resident doctors to refund N501,000 being 50 per cent of their June to December medical residency training fund paid to them, and handover all properties in their possession.

    Ajayi condemned the act, adding that flow charts for training were nonexistent at the hospital.

    He said: “People will spend additional years in training for no fault of theirs
    Some people will keep your proposal for months and not attend to it, and then the resident is to blame every time.”

    According to Ajayi, anytime the residents embark on strike, they will start sending sack letters.

    He said, “The interesting thing about this BDTH is that they are just eight years in residency.

    “Someone needs to tell the CMD that it is impossible for anyone to have overstayed residency in his centre if they started in 2018.”

    Also speaking, the hospital’s chapter Chairman, Dr Josiah Yakubu, said so far, six of the resident doctors had received their termination letters from the management.

    He added that from February to date, five doctors had resigned and more were going, saying, “this is because they have gotten better offers in states such as Kano, Katsina and Nasarawa.

    Yakubu said, ” In a residency programme, one is trained to become a Specialist and has to go for posting before writing his examination, both the first stage and second stage.

    ” But because we are understaffed, where you can find four or two doctors in a department, one will be due for posting and will be delayed by the management with excuses while rotations are also being delayed “

    He added that the association held a meeting with the Secretary to the State Government on Tuesday with the hope of negotiations.

    Yakubu said, “But we were told to call off the strike first. The government also threatened us with no work no pay.

    ” All we are asking is for the government to hear us and meet our needs.

    ” With this action, they are telling us that they don’t appreciate us. Let them bring back our members and employ more.”

    Reacting, the State Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Umma Ahmed told NAN on Wednesday, “an agreement has just been reached between the state government and NARD, so they will be immediately reinstated.

    “The meeting that was held at the Office of the Secretary to the State Government was successful and an amicable resolution has been reached between both parties.”

  • Resident doctors beg FG to pay outstanding training funds

    Resident doctors beg FG to pay outstanding training funds

    The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has appealed to the Federal Government to pay the 2023 and 2024 outstanding Medical Residency Training Funds (MRTF).

    The President of the association, Dr Osundara Tope-Zenith, made the appeal at a news conference on Saturday in Abuja.

    The forum was to mark the end of the 2025 National Executive Council (NEC) meeting and Scientific conference of the association.

    Tope-Zenith also expressed displeasure over the non-payment of the arrears of the upwardly revised Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS)

    He, however, commended the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for convening a stakeholders’ meeting to address issues related to the MRTF.

    “The NEC observed with dismay the persistent short-changing of our members over the past five years as there have been no consequential adjustments to the CONMESS basic salary and allowances.

    “This is a clear violation of the provisions of the 2009 collective bargaining agreement.

    ” The NEC appreciated the Chief Medical Directors who have been fully paid the Accoutrement Allowance arrears.

    “The NEC expressed concern about the persistent manpower shortage in most hospitals.

    “The NEC also observed some of the positive strides Prof John Okeniyi, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Obafemi Awolowo Teaching Hospital, is putting in place to maintain industrial peace.

    “The NEC commends the Minister of the FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike, for ensuring the payment of all outstanding salaries and allowances, and the disbursement of MRTF and the employment of doctors in the FCT.

    “The NEC observed the persistent drift of specialised medical manpower in privately-owned teaching hospitals due to poor remuneration,” Tope-Zenith said.

    He said the association resolved that the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria should expedite the payment of the 2025 MRTF and ensure the settlement of the outstanding 2023 and 2024 MRTF.

    Tope-Zenith said that the college should also facilitate the payment of the 2022 MRTF arrears in line with the stakeholders’ meeting convened by the ministry.

    He urged the Federal Government to promptly pay the arrears of the upwardly revised CONMESS and pay other outstanding salary arrears without delay.

    Tope-Zenith also demanded the full implementation of the consequential adjustments for the 2019 and 2024 minimum wage on the doctors basic salary as well as other allowances.

    He said that the NEC had mandated the association’s National Officers Committee to continue its engagement with the Federal Government on all the outstanding payments.

    He however, said that if there was no significant response after six weeks, NEC would call for an emergency meeting.

    Tope-Zenith said that the NEC had also demanded that all CMDs/MDs complete the payment of the 2023/2024 Accoutrement Allowance arrears.

    He said the NEC would call for sustained engagement with the ministry to ensure a seamless and continuous employment of doctors in all health institutions to mitigate brain drain.

    Tope-Zenith also said NEC had urged governors to prioritise the welfare of doctors in state-owned hospitals and training institutions to reduce brain drain and foster industrial harmony.

    He said the council also called on CMDs/CEOs of privately-owned teaching hospitals to improve welfare packages for resident doctors to prevent brain drain.

    The theme for the meeting was “Empowering Doctors with Leadership and Entrepreneurship Skills: A Panacea for Universal Health Coverage and a Brighter Healthcare System.”

    The sub-theme was: “Building Resilience and strengthening Nigeria’s Healthcare System for Effective Disaster and Disease Management.

  • FG urges NARD to call off 7-day warning strike

    FG urges NARD to call off 7-day warning strike

    The Federal Government has appealed to the members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD0 to call off their seven-day warning strike.

    The Minister of State for Health, Dr Tunji Alausa,made the call on Thursday in Kaduna during a visit to the National Eye Centre.

    According to Alausa, negotiations are ongoing to ensure the safety of their kidnapped colleague, Dr Ganiyat Popoola.

    The minister said that the Federal Government and security agencies were working hard to rescue Popoola.

    He said, “We are on top of the matter and have been on talking terms with  the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu ,regarding the issue.

    “I have spoken with the Commissioner of Police and everyone is working hard to see that she is released.”

    The minister said that he had held a meeting on Monday with the leadership  of NARD over the situation to convince them to call off the strike because it would worsen the situation.

    ” We don’t believe this warning strike will do anything. All hands are on deck to secure her release.

    ” For the past two days, we know she is alive and that’s good news for us as the security are working hard to bring her back alive,” he said.

    Alausa added that the kidnappers kept changing their demands every moment but the security agencies were working hard to see that she was safely rescued.

    “I appeal to you to call off the strike and let’s keep praying that she comes back home in peace,” the minister passionately appealed.

    The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the members of the association began a seven-day warning strike to push for the rescue of a Kaduna-based doctor, Dr Ganiyat Popoola.

    Popoola, a staff of the centre, was kidnapped in December, 2023 and has now spent about nine months in the kidnappers’ den.

    Meanwhile, the Chairman of the association, National Eye Centre,  Dr Ibrahim Mohammed, told NAN that the strike was still on.

    He said that the medical and dental consultants had joined them in the strike and it was a directive from the national body.

  • Resident doctors issue 14-day ultimatum to Enugu Govt

    Resident doctors issue 14-day ultimatum to Enugu Govt

    The Association of Resident Doctors of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology Teaching Hospital (ESUTH) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to Enugu State Government to employ more doctors and ensure security.

    This is contained in a communique issued on Saturday after the end of the Emergency General Meeting of the association in ESUT Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu held on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023.

    The communique was jointly signed by the President of ARD-ESUT, Dr Chukwunonso Ofonere and its Secretary General, Dr Ikemefuna Nnamani.

    The statement called on the management of ESUTHTeaching and the Enugu State Government to declare state of emergency on the employment of Doctors in the hospital.

    According to the statement, the EGM observed that it is now 120 days since the government through the Secretary to the State Government promised the ARD of employment of Medical Officers and Resident Doctors, and we are yet to see an advert to this effect.

    It said that the EGM was intimated of the Management’s proposed plan to ensure the safety of Doctors and other health workers in the hospital.

    The statement noted that the EGM had resolved to extend the initial 14 days ultimatum by another 14 days ultimatum which shall end on Dec. 1.

    “First, the management should declare state of emergency on the employment of doctors in the hospital. There should be an urgent approval for the recruitment of medical officers, resident doctors and House Officers in the hospital.

    “This recruitment should be focused especially at the Accident and Emergency Department, Surgery Department, Internal Medicine Department, Paediatrics Department, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Departments,”.

    It noted that resident doctors that had left the  institution in the past four years were never replaced.

    “Secondly, management should ensure implementation of safety policies to protect her workers against physical attacks and kidnap within one week as promised by the Chief Medical Director (CMD).

    “Thirdly, the immediate implementation of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) as our counterpart in other states; even as attached to this communique is the list of the eligible doctors and the financial implications,” it said.

    The statement noted that the EGM resolved that after 14 days and the above demands were not met, industrial harmony could not be guaranteed.

  • BREAKING: Tinubu orders payment of withheld salaries to doctors, ASUU members

    BREAKING: Tinubu orders payment of withheld salaries to doctors, ASUU members

    President Bola Tinubu has ordered members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) be paid their salaries withheld for 4 months when members of the union went on strike.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports President Tinubu gave the order while approving a partial waiver of the “No Work, No Pay” on members of ASUU.

    “Invoking the Principle of the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy, President Bola Tinubu has approved the partial waiver of the “No Work, No Pay” Order that was instituted against striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU),” a statement released on Friday in Abuja by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity reads.

    The order follows the eight-month industrial action embarked on by ASUU members, which began on February 14, 2022 and was terminated on October 17, 2022.

    “In view of his determination to mitigate the difficulties being felt during the implementation of key economic reforms in the country, as well as his recognition of the faithful implementation of terms which were agreed upon during the fruitful deliberations between ASUU and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

    “President Bola Tinubu has directed the grant of an exceptional last waiver of the “No Work, No Pay” Order on ASUU, which will allow for the previously striking members of ASUU to receive four (4) months of salary accruals out.”

    The amount is to be paid out of the eight months of salary which was withheld during the eight-month industrial action undertaken by the union.

    The president also directed the Federal Ministry of Education and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to secure a Document of Understanding (DoU) from ASUU.

    The DoU is to establish that this exceptional waiver granted by the President will be the last to be granted to ASUU and all other Education Sector Unions.

    Similarly, Tinubu has approved the waiver of the “No Work, No Pay” order instituted against striking members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on Aug. 1.

    The waiver was in accordance with the Principle of the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy.

    He said that the order was placed on the NARD members following the commencement of their industrial action on July 26.

    Recall  NARD called off the strike after several consultations with the Federal Government on Aug. 12.

    The federal government subsequently directed the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation to withhold all salaries accrued by striking NARD members during the 17 days of their strike action.

    “In view of the faithful implementation of terms which were agreed upon during the fruitful deliberations between the Resident Doctors and the Federal Government of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has directed the grant of an exceptional last waiver of the “No Work, No Pay” Order on Resident Doctors.

    “(This) will allow for the members of the NARD to receive the salaries which were previously withheld during the 17-day strike action.”

    The president granted the waiver with a mandatory requirement that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment must secure a Document of Understanding (DoU).

    The president said that the DoU must establish that this exceptional waiver granted by the President would be the last to be granted to the NARD and all other Health Sector Unions.

  • Kogi doctors set for indefinite strike as 21-day ultimatum expires

    Kogi doctors set for indefinite strike as 21-day ultimatum expires

    The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Kogi State Specialist Hospital (KSSH), Lokoja, has called the attention of the State Government to the expiration of the 21 days ultimatum given to it to meet its demands.

    The association had on Aug. 9, issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Kogi Government to meet its demands or be ready for an indefinite strike action, after suspending its two-day industrial action directed by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).

    The ultimatum was to give room for dialogue and engagement with the state government.

    The notification was given in a statement jointly signed by the ARD KSSH’s President, Dr Ameh Friday; and Secretary General, Dr Peter Samuel, and made available to journalists on Saturday in Lokoja.

    “The ARD KSSH, wishes to state that today, makes it 21 days since its last communique and one month since it suspended its industrial action as directed by the National Body – NARD – for government to look into the some of its pressing demands as listed below.

    “Having examined the inertia that has greeted our requests also keeping in view of our previous failure to join the national directive to suspend service delivery because of our commitment to the client and State Government which unfortunately has never been appreciated.

    “We will like to remind government of our modest demands once more.

    “Upward review of CONMESS 2014 to CONMESS 2023, and approval of Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023).

    “Review of hazard allowance as released by the National Salary, Income and Wages Commission, 22nd December, 2021, and implementation and cash backing of promotion as well as the statutory Annual Increments with payment of arrears of both annual increments and promotion,” it said.

    “The association stressed that the statement would serve as a reminder of the association’s initial communique.

    “The association emphasised that the moral and psychic of its members in the Kogi State Specialist Hospital is at an all time low with respect to their concerns, unfortunately, the Hospital working environment, coupled with the unpalatable economic realities have further worsened the already sour situation.

    “The ARD will convoke a Congress meeting in seven days from now to have an appraisal of the progress made so far and take a decision on all its demands,” the association said.

  • Nigerians dying in droves as result of doctors’ strike – FG

    Nigerians dying in droves as result of doctors’ strike – FG

    The Federal Government has disclosed that Nigerian are dying in troops as a result of the ongoing strike embarked on by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Kachollom Daju made the disclosure at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja.

    However, Daju did not disclose the number of deaths recorded as a result of the doctors’ strike but appealed to the striking doctors to call off the ongoing indefinite strike.

    Recall NARD embarked on an indefinite strike on July 26, following the expiration of a two-week ultimatum it issued to the Federal Government to press home its demands.

    The doctors’ demands include implementation of the one-for-one replacement policy for healthcare workers; Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to discontinue the downgrading of the membership certificate issued by the West African Postgraduate Medical and Surgical Colleges.

    Other demands are: the immediate payment of all salary arrears; the implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure; a new hazard allowance and the domestication of the Medical Residency Training Act; among others.

    Daju urged the striking doctors to consider the lives of many Nigerians at stake and end the strike.

    She said that the new administration and other relevant agencies were working round the clock to ensure that the contentious issues were addressed and the doctors’ demands met.

    “We are using this medium to currently appeal to NARD that please, Nigerians are dying in troops. That is the truth, the health sector is a very important sector.

    “Not that other sectors are not important, they are all important but we all know what medical doctors are to us. If you are ill today and you cannot go to a hospital, what happens?

    “People are dying, people cannot care for themselves. So, I am begging them and I am lending my voice to the voice of all members of the government who have appealed to them, to please call off their strike and go back to work.

    “I know that your parent ministry alongside other government agencies are working round the clock to ensure that this matter is sorted out,” she said.

    She said the Federal Government expected that with all sense of responsibility, NARD would see reasons with them.

    She said, “I know that maybe between 29 May  and now, they assumed that what they requested would be given immediately but, some of the issues have been dealt with by the Federal Government.”

    She, however, noted that since the new administration came into office, concerted efforts had been made by the Federal Government and the National Assembly to address the issues.

    She said that there were two main contending issues which include the payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund and One-on-one placement of exited doctors.

    Daju explained that on the immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund, the government had appealed to the doctors to await when ministers are in place.

    ”Very soon, we are sure that ministers are going to be in place and the government is not resting on its oars. We understand the plight of where you are coming from,” she said.

    On efforts made to resolve the issue of replacement of exited doctors, Daju further explained that the office of the Head of Civil Service was attending to that and a committee had been set up.

    She said, “We have pleaded again that you just give us a little more time that when recommendations have been made by the committee we will bring them forth and act but to no avail,” she said.

  • Nigerian Doctors migrate to other African countries for better working conditions – NARD

    Nigerian Doctors migrate to other African countries for better working conditions – NARD

    As the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has  decries the mass exodus of its members “every day” to other African countries over “better” working conditions and infrastructure.

    This comes barely 24 hours after NARD announced its intention to picket 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 from Wednesday.

    The move is the latest in the resident doctors’ efforts to speed up the implementation of a prior agreement with the Federal Government, including the immediate payment of the 2023 MRTF, the immediate release of the circular on one-for-one replacement, and the payment of skipping arrears.

    To this end, NARD, on July 25, declared a “total and indefinite strike action”.

    The NARD President, Dr Emeka Orji, who appeared on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, noted working conditions in the Nigerian health sector had deteriorated to such a degree that resident doctors were migrating to foreign countries.

    According to Orji, the number of Nigerian resident doctors has dwindled from 16,000 to between 12,000 and 15,000 in a few years with 1,000 to 2,000 colleagues lost to the japa syndrome annually.

    Asked to comment on some of the preferred countries of these doctors, Orji said, “And some of them are even going to African countries. That would tell you how bad the Nigerian health sector has become, that doctors leave this country and go to African countries.”

  • Resident doctors turn down 25% increase in salary

    Resident doctors turn down 25% increase in salary

    … insist fuel subsidy removal has rubbished its value

    The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has rejected the Federal Government’s proposal of a 25 per cent increase in doctors’ basic salary and a quarterly N25,000 accoutrement allowance.

    This rejection comes amid their ongoing nationwide indefinite strike, as they claim that the government has not met their demands.

    According to Dr. Emeka Orji, the President of NARD, the association firmly refuses the proposed 25 per cent salary increment and accouterment allowance, insisting on the full restoration of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure to its 2009 value when it was initially approved.

    The current salary structure, implemented in 2014, has lost its value due to inflation, exchange rate fluctuations, and fuel price hikes. Hence, the resident doctors are requesting a return to the 2014 salary value, which they calculate to be more than a 600 per cent increase when accounting for the removal of fuel subsidy.

    In addition to salary concerns, Resident doctors also demand the immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), the replacement of departed doctors and nurses with new ones, payment of salary arrears, improved hazard allowance by state governments, and a reversal of the downgrading of membership Medical Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN.

    Furthermore, NARD is opposing the casualization of doctors in all tertiary health institutions in Nigeria and urging the government to enhance security measures to prevent incidents like the recent abduction of Prof. Ekanem Philip-Ephraim of UCTH Calabar, one of its trainers.

    Resident doctors say strike to continue indefinitely

    Meanwhile, NARD has said the ongoing nationwide strike action embarked upon by its members on Wednesday may continue indefinitely

    It added that the strike would continue until reasonable progress was made by the government to address its demands as contained in the ultimatum issued to the federal government on July 5.

    The association made its stand known in a communique it issued on Saturday at the end of its National Executive Council  (NEC) meeting held in Lagos.

    The meeting which began on Monday had “Bullying in Medical Practice: a Matter of Perspective?” as its theme.

    The communique was signed jointly by NARD’s National President, Dr Innocent Orji, Secretary-General, Dr Chikezie Kelechi and the Publicity and Social Secretary, Dr Umar Musa.

    The demands of the group include the immediate release of the circular on the One-for-One policy for the replacement of exited clinical workers for implementation.

    “We cannot continue to watch our members lose their lives and break down under the weight of work overload occasioned by massive depletion of clinical staff in our hospitals on account of brain drain.

    “We demand as a matter of urgency, the immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF).

    “To demand the payment of all salaries and arrears including the salary arrears of 2014-2016, arrears of hazard allowance, arrears of consequential adjustment of the minimum wage, and promotion arrears to our deserving members without further delay.”

    The association also called on the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) to reverse the downgrading of the membership certificate.

    It added that continuing with the downgrading of the certificates  would only reduce the value placed on the postgraduate medical training in Nigeria.

    The group said it embarked on the strike action on Wednesday after many months and years of non implementation of agreements reached with the government.

    “NEC observed the attempts made by some well-meaning Nigerians to resolve the issues at stake but expressed surprise that these have not resulted in any meaningful solutions.

    “We have observed the various meetings held with government agents and officials over the demands of NARD, the various memoranda and agreements reached, and the unfortunately slow wheel of progress of the government’s implementation processes.

    “NEC also observed with shock that up till now, about two months after the agreed date, the government has not yet released the circular on one-for-one replacement of exited clinical workers,” it noted.

    The association said that this was in negligence of the morbid and mortal effects of the massive brain drain on its members still working in the country and Nigerian citizens.

  • BREAKING: FG approves peculiar allowance for striking doctors

    BREAKING: FG approves peculiar allowance for striking doctors

    The Federal Government has approved the payment of N25,000.00 peculiar allowance for medical and dental doctors in hospitals, medical centres and clinics in the federal public service.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports this was disclosed in a statement by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the national salary and wages commission, Ekpo Nta.

    This is coming in the wake of the ongoing indefinite strike embarked on by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).

    According to the statement, the N25,000.00 peculiar allowance is to be paid from the overhead budget.

    TNG reports the government also issued circulars on some of the demands of the doctors on strike.

    These include the Circular on Review of CONMESS, which indicates 25% for CONMESS one to six ( 1-6) and 35% for CONMESS seven (7).

    Another Circular is on Review of CONHESS which shows 25% for CONMESS one to fourteen (1-14) and 35% for CONHESS fifteen (15 ).

    Also included is the circular on Hazard Allowance for Doctors working outside hospitals.