Doctors Embark On Nationwide Indefinite Strike In Nigeria

Doctors have embarked on a nationwide indefinite strike in Nigeria.

Glamtush reports that the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors declared the commencement of an indefinite strike on Tuesday night, July 25.

This Nigeria News s platform understands that the NARD President, Dr Emeka Orji, disclosed this, saying that the strike will begin today, Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at 12 am.

The NARD President said the decision was made during the July National Executive Council meeting in Lagos.

The resident doctors are demanding the implementation of the one-for-one replacement policy for healthcare workers; 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; the immediate payment of all salary arrears; the implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure; a new hazard allowance; and the domestication of the Medical Residency Training Act; among others.

Orji said, “Our members are saying that we have been on this since January on the same issues, and they are not going to continue to wait.

“The very important part of our demands is a one-for-one replacement, and doctors are still leaving and the ones remaining are being overworked.

“Last week, a doctor died in Bayelsa State. Doctors are dying from being overworked, and we have been on this for a long time.

“When we met on Friday, everybody was calling for a strike, and I just had to plead with them because the Secretary to the Government, George Akume, intervened, but up till today, we cannot reach them again, and nobody wants to hear about any intervention by the government again.”