The strike action embarked on by National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has been suspended and all members of the association have been directed to resume work immediately.
The resident doctors had commenced strike Friday morning after the expiration of the 24 – hour additional grace period given by the association after expiration of its earlier 10-day deadline on September 10.
President of the association, Dr. Tope Osundara, confirmed the suspension of the industrial action to journalists via text messages.
He said the decision of doctors to stop the two-day old strike was sequel to a commitment by the federal government to immediately begin payment of the medical residency training fund to beneficiaries.
It was learnt that Minister of Labour and Employment and Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare met with the leadership of NARD at the weekend to convey government’s decision.
Osundara also said that “our strike has been suspended, doctors are to resume work today. Some of our demands have been met.
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“One of them is the payment of Medical Residency Training Fund Govt has also promised to look into other issues.
“We did this as a sign of goodwill and to assist Nigerians who are seeking healthcare in our various facilities”.
Osundara said that other outstanding demands that are not of immediate attention include unpaid arrears, downgrade of membership certificate, manpower shortage, immediate release of corrected circular on remuneration for doctors from NSIWC.
Resident doctors are also demanding the settlement of five months’ arrears from the 25–35 percent consolidated medical walary structure review, and other long-standing salary backlog demands
