Resident Doctors Issue Ultimatum: FG Given Two Weeks to Implement 200% Salary Raise

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has given the Federal Government a new two-week deadline to implement a 200% salary increase for its members, along with other demands.

This decision was made during a virtual Extraordinary National Executive Council Meeting (E-NEC) held on Wednesday to assess the progress of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the government on May 19, 2023.

The MoU was the result of a five-day warning strike conducted by the Association from May 17, 2023.

In a joint statement, NARD President Orji Innocent, Secretary General Chikezie Kelechi, and Publicity and Social Secretary Umar Musa called on the government to promptly settle all outstanding debts, including hazard allowances, skipping arrears from 2014 to 2016, and the arrears related to the minimum wage’s consequential adjustment.

The doctors argued that there are no valid reasons for the government to continuously delay payment of their arrears and allowances.

“We demand the immediate release and the implementation of the guidelines on one-for-one replacement of clinical staff to cushion the effect of the massive manpower shortage in our various hospitals nationwide,” the communique partly read.

“NEC calls on the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to discontinue the downgrading of the membership certificate issued by the West African Postgraduate Medical and Surgical colleges as this is not obtainable in other parts of West Africa where these same certificates are issued.

“NEC demands the immediate payment of all Salary Arrears, implementation of the CONMESS salary structure and new Hazard Allowance and domestication of the Medical Residency Training Act and payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund to our members in the State Tertiary Health Institutions nationwide.

“NEC hereby wishes to further extend her already expired ultimatum issued to the government by 2 weeks with effect from today 5th July 2023.

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“The NEC of NARD insist on the immediate implementation of a minimum of 200% increment in the CONMESS (Consolidated Medical Salary Structure) salary structure and upward review of the associated allowances as requested in her previous letters on the subject matter since the current economic realities in the country cannot justify the continued payment of CONMESS as it is at the moment or any increment below the 200% as demanded.

“For purposes of emphasis, at the expiration of this further extended ultimatum by 19th of July 2023, if all these demands are not met, we cannot guarantee industrial harmony in the Health Sector nationwide.”