The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced the suspension of their nationwide strike, which began on 26th July 2023 due to the federal government’s failure to meet the demands of its members.
Innocent “Emeka” Orji, the national president of the association, confirmed the development on Friday evening. In a brief message, he stated, “Good evening. We’ve just suspended the strike. Work will resume at 8 am tomorrow. We plan to review the progress made in two weeks.”
The decision to halt the strike action follows a recent suspension of their planned nationwide protest intended to amplify their demands. Among the key issues highlighted by the NARD chief, there is a pressing need for the recruitment of more medical personnel. This is to compensate for the loss of doctors who have either migrated or passed away.
Orji emphasised the strain placed on the remaining doctors and the consequential impact on the Nigerian public, stating, “Our members are suffering. The lack of an adequate number of doctors in hospitals invariably affects the healthcare service delivery system. No one has contradicted our concerns.”
Questioning the government’s commitment, Orji remarked, “A ministerial committee was established by the government, which formulated a guideline in February this year. Why hasn’t that guideline been disseminated?”
He firmly accused the government of not addressing the doctors’ demands. This move comes after an earlier meeting between the union’s executive and senators, spearheaded by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The strike, which was termed “total and indefinite”, was initially instigated due to various demands, including the call for increased wages for doctors.
