Tension as Resident Doctors embark on five-day warning strike this Wednesday
…Demand for gross salaries increment by 200%
…Protest five-year compulsory services bill for medical, dental graduates
…Address brain-drain, Nigerian doctors doing exploit abroad — NBA urges President-elect
Another industrial action is set to throw Nigeria’s medical sector off balance as medical Doctors under the aegis of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) have announced plans to embark on a five-day warning strike following the failure of the Federal Government to meet its demands.
The intention which has thrown Nigerians into confusion over fear of what fate would befall many ill people and their relatives, came on the heels of the decision of Doctors after over six and half hours extraordinary National Executive Council meeting of the NARD held virtually on Monday.
The Doctors slated the scheduled strike to commence from 8am on Wednesday, May 17, and will end Monday, May 22, at 8am.
Recall NARD had earlier on April 29, 2023, issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to meet its demands or face industrial action.
The Doctors are demanding an immediate increment in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure to the tune of 200 per cent of the current gross salaries of doctors.
Also among their demands is the immediate withdrawal of the bill seeking to compel medical and dental graduates to render five-year compulsory services in Nigeria before being granted full licences to practise.
Also, on their list of requests is the immediate implementation of CONMESS, domestication of the Medical Residency Training Act, and review of hazard allowance by all the state governments as well as private tertiary health institutions where any form of residency training is done; among others.
However, angered by the perceived silence of the government to their demands, the President of NARD, Dr Emeka Orji has said the planned strike was total, involving both emergency and clinical operations in the hospitals.
Meanwhile, as the Country continues to suffer brain-drain with Nigerian trained doctors deserting the Country for greener pastures abroad, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has urged President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, upon commencement of his administration to tackle the challenge the phenomenon is posing before the Country.
The NBA which lamented Nigeria lacks favourable conditions available in other Countries which have been attracting Nigerian trained doctors and other professionals, blamed the situation on the deficiencies in various sectors of the Nigerian economy.
The President of the NBA, Mr. Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, at the unveiling ceremony of the logo of the 63rd Annual General Conference (AGC) of the association, with the theme; “Getting It Right, Chatting The Course For Nigeria’s Nation Building,” called for concerted efforts to address the sectoral problems.
He said, “It is our responsibility as lawyers to build this nation, whether we know it or not. No other profession is positioned to take the lead in the recovery and repositioning of the nation than the legal profession.
“We hear stories of how medical practitioners and other resources that came out of this country are doing well outside the country.
“If you go to the Aviation industry abroad they are there. Check the business sector and even NASA, we have Nigerians doing very well.
“What then is happening to this country? Why is it that when we get out of the shores of the country, we excel? There must be something that we are not doing well.
“We, as a country are blessed with all the potentials to get it right. But whatever that is bugging us down, it is time for us to identify them and it is time for us to find lasting solutions to them,” he said.
