Nigerian Resident Doctors extend strike ultimatum, demand 200 percent pay increase

*The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors urge the Federal Government to immediately implement a minimum of 200 percent  salary increment in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, and upward review of other associated allowances as earlier requested

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has asked the Federal Government to immediately implement a minimum of 200 percent  salary increment in the CONMESS (Consolidated Medical Salary Structure) salary structure, and upward review of the associated allowances as requested earlier.

ConsumerConnect reports the Resident Doctors Wednesday, July 5, 2023, issued a fresh two-week ultimatum to the government to effect the pay rise.

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Association reached the resolution Wednesday at a virtual Extraordinary National Executive Council Meeting (E-NEC) to appraise the level of implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the government May 19, 2023, following a five-day warning strike embarked upon by the Association May 17, 2023.

NARD President, Orji Innocent, Secretary General, Chikezie Kelechi; and Publicity and Social Secretary, Umar Musa both signed the communique after the E-NEC.

The Resident Doctors urged the Nigerian Government to without pay “all outstanding arrears” owed its members.

According to them, these include the hazard allowance and the skipping arrears from 2014 to 2016, and the arrears of consequential adjustment of minimum wage.

No justification for owing our salary arrears, allowances: NARD

The doctors said there is no justifiable reason for the government to keep owing their arrears and allowances.

The communiqué stated: “The 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.

“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.”

The Association also noted: “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.

Extension of ultimatum by 2 weeks

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

The Resident Doctors further said: “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.”

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