ABUTH residents doctors embark on 5-day warning strike over unpaid salaries

The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) branch, has commenced a five-day warning strike over the non-payment of salaries owed to some members.

This was announced by NARD’s Vice-President, Ashiru Mikail, during a news conference on Monday in Zaria.

“We gave the hospital management a one-week ultimatum to address our demands, which expired on Sunday, hence the commencement of the warning strike.

“We reject percentage salary payments for members on the GIFMIS platform and demand repayment of parts of their salaries withheld,” Mikail said.

According to Mikail, the affected members were paid in percentage in June, with their salaries slashed by about 25 to 27 percent, representing N58,000 to N60,000.

“This is unacceptable, and we demand the implementation of the 25 per cent CONMESS upward review of members’ salaries on the GIFMIS platform,” he said.

Mikail also expressed disappointment with the management’s proposal to pay N2 million to offset the arrears of accoutrement allowance per month from the overhead cost.

“This amount can only pay N5,000 per member monthly as against the N100,000 owed each member,” he said.

The association demands the implementation of the 25 percent CONMESS upward review of members’ salaries on the GIFMIS platform, among other demands.

“We will reconvene to review our strategy after the warning strike to determine the next line of action,” Mikail said.