The National Executive Council, NEC, of the National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, on Saturday, rejected the 25 per cent increment in the basic salary of doctors as well as the accoutrement allowance.
They insisted that their earlier demand is for full restoration of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure to its right value as at the time of the approval of the structure in 2009.
The doctors also maintained that there was no going back on the ongoing nationwide total and indefinite strike until reasonable progress is made by the government to address their demands as contained in their ultimatum issued to the federal government on July 5.
Declaring this position in a communique jointly signed by the President, Dr Orji Emeka Innocent, Secretary-General, Dr. Chikezie Kelechi, and Publicity & Social Secretary, Dr Uma Musa, the striking doctors described the 25 per cent as a ‘paltry’ and said the strike continues.
The communique issued at the end of its NEC meeting in Lagos, tagged: “LasGIDI 2023”, with the theme: “Bullying in Medical Practice: a matter of Perspective?”, demanded the immediate release of the circular on the One-for-One policy for the replacement of exited clinical workers for implementation, as they cannot continue to watch their members lose their lives and break down under the weight of work overload occasioned by massive depletion of clinical staff in the hospitals on account of brain drain.
from the subsidy removal would be prudently utilized for the common good.”
They further appealed to the Federal and state governments to urgently resolve these demands to forestall the further escalation of the ongoing industrial disharmony in the health sector nationwide.Resident doctors reject 25% salary increase by FG, say strike goes on
By Ajibola Adedoye