The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) says its members will not embark on industrial action.
The president of the association, Dr Innocent Orji, disclosed this in Abuja in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He said, “industrial action has been called off now as negotiations are underway with government bodies required to meet the demands of the association.
“The National Executive Council (NEC) of the association directed the National Committee of Officers to engage with the Federal Government on the issues outlined and refer back to them if necessary.
“We take this decision in the public interest and in the current situation.”
NAN reported that the association on January 11, wrote a letter to the Federal Government addressing the Minister of Health and Labor and the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
The letter was titled “Imminent Nationwide Industrial Disharmony in the Health Sector: An Urgent Administrative Matter”.
In the letter, the resident doctors said there are unresolved issues affecting their members and if the issues are not resolved before the NEC meeting between January 24 and January 28, industrial action is possible.
These problems include irregularities in the new circular in the upward review of the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), outstanding payment of new warning arrears and non-payment of skipping arrears for 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Also, the non-payment of the consequential adjustment of the minimum wage to some of its members, the delay in the upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), the salary arrears of members in the State Tertiary Health Institutions running to several months, including Abia , Imo, Ondo, Ekiti and Gombe State.
It also cited the non-domestication of the Medical Residency Training Act (MRTA) in most states of the federation as one of the pending issues.
Part of the letter read: “We sincerely appreciate the government’s efforts through the MDA to resolve some of the issues raised.
“However, many remain unresolved and have now become a source of national agitation that threatens peace and industrial harmony in the health sector.
“Sir, our January 2023 NEC meeting has been scheduled for January 24 to 28, and we can confirm our clear feeling that if the issue is not resolved before the meeting, our members will give us a mandate to start the process immediately. which will cause national industrial disharmony in health sector.
“Sir, we know how critical this time is and the chaos that will ensue if the government does not take steps to prevent this from happening, we humbly request you to use your good offices to resolve the matter before the January NEC meeting.
“Sir, we trust in your fatherly character and believe that you will help and save this nation from the impending industrial chaos.”
However, after the meeting which took place in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, the association, in a communique, made certain resolutions.
He called on the Federal Government to without delay start the MRTF payment process for 2023 so that the members can use the funds for the February refresher course and the March/April/May exams.
“Nevertheless, NEC would like to remind the government of some people who have not been paid their arrears for nine months,
as well as four months’ unpaid arrears of the hazard arrears owed by all members.
“NEC is calling on the government to settle the payment as soon as possible so that it does not happen again in the future.
engagement with NARD.
“NEC asks the Federal Government to quickly pay the skipping arrears for 2014, 2015, and 2016, as well as the lack of adjustments resulting from the minimum wage for members who deserve it because of the patience of the association.
worry about this.”
The association also demanded that the activities of the committee set up to review CONMESS be expedited
and that NARD must be brought together in the process for his input to avoid unnecessary results.
However, it welcomes the committee established by the federal government to reduce the brain drain in the health sector, and calls for the quick conclusion of the task and the immediate implementation of the recommendations to improve the delivery of health services and reduce the emigration of skilled health workers. from the country.
The association asked the Ministry of Health to speed up the “one-to-one” policy of replacing outgoing doctors and clinical staff to help reduce the acute shortage of staff in hospitals and the effects it has on psyche and health. workers