Resident Doctors Begin Nationwide Protest Amid Strike

Nigerian Doctors under the aegis of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) begins nationwide peaceful protest on Wednesday the 9^th of August 2023 amid ongoing strike action.

Hundreds of patients across Nigeria are currently experiencing delay or denial in accessing healthcare due to yet another indefinite strike action by the doctors which began last Wednesday the 26^th of July. 

NARD Says It has commenced daily peaceful protests and picketing of the Federal Ministry of Health, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.

The protest, which will begin by 10am, will also take place at all federal and state tertiary health institutions nationwide. The association stressed that their action had become necessary to press home their demands which had been largely neglected by the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Government.

Recall that a few days ago, the Federal Ministry of Health, through its Director of Hospital Services, Dr Andrew Noah, directed Chief Medical Directors and medical directors in the federal tertiary hospitals to invoke a ‘no work, no pay’ policy against striking members of NARD.

The ministry also directed the hospitals to maintain an attendance register for all resident doctors willing to work.

This is coming after the doctors’ association commenced a nationwide indefinite strike on July 26, 2023.

According to the president Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) Dr. Emeka Orji, a lot of hospitals across the country are oweing their doctors months of salaries, even up to six months.

However, the impact of the strike has been immediate and damaging as most emergency patients are left unattended to. The incessant strikes by doctors and health workers have furthers worsened the situation of the health sector which is already crippled by the ongoing exodus of doctors abroad, causing massive brain drain.

Dr Emeka further stated that doctors and nurses have left in droves in search of greener pastures or better living condition. Currently, there’s only one doctor to every 4000 patients in Nigeria, falling bellow who’s recommendation of one doctor to every 600 patients. 

The Nigeria Medical Association NMA, says at least 50 doctors leave Nigeria every week to work abroad. Poor working conditions, coupled with bad pay and the rising cost of living are the main factors. 

Even though doctors in Nigeria’s public hospitals have started a “total and indefinite strike” Over what they describe as the government’s failure to address their grievances, this would not be the first time doctors are going on strike in Nigeria. 

Read Also: Resident doctors meet FG amid looming nationwide protest

Recall that in 2020, right in the heart of the Covid19 pandemic, Nigerian doctors walked out from their jobs three times, with other professional unions such as the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) threatening to follow suit.

In July, Doctors had issued a two-week ultimatum to the government before embarking on an initial strike in which they demanded 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 since 2015; the implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS); a new hazard allowance; the immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) and the domestication of the Medical Residency Training Act; among others.

Recall also that the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) earlier last week rejected a 25 per cent basic salary increase offered by the government. The association also rejected the 25,000 naira peculiar allowance approved for medical and dental doctors in the federal public service.

The Bola Tinubu Administration, last Wednesday, approved the rate as peculiar allowance for health workers, few hours after the doctors’ association began its national indefinite strike.

The government conveyed the approval of the allowance to the striking doctors via a letter dated 26 July and signed by the chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), Ekpo Nta.

The letter reads in part; “The federal government has approved the payment of an accouterments allowance of 25,000.00 naira per quarter to medical and dental doctors in hospitals, medical centres, and clinics in the federal public service. The allowance is to be paid from the overhead budget.”

The President of NARD, Emeka Orrji, in a statement to press on Saturday, said the National Executive Council (NEC) of the association observed the “paltry 25 per cent” Increment in the basic salary of doctors as contained in the circular released by NSIWC in the wake of the strike, as well as the accouterments allowance.

Mr Orji said NEC rejects the increase and calls for the fulfillment of the agreement between the doctors and the Nigerian government.

“NEC vehemently rejects the paltry 25 per cent increment in the basic salary of doctors, as well as the accouterments allowance,” Adding that the association’s earlier demand is “for full restoration of the consolidated medical salary structure to its right value as at the time of the approval of the structure in 2009,” He said.

He said the strike continues indefinitely “until reasonable progress is made by the government” To address the association’s demands as contained in the ultimatum earlier issued to the federal government.

The doctors have now embarked on an indefinite industrial action in the early hours of Wednesday 9^th of August following what they described as the failure of the Nigerian government to meet their demands.

The resident doctors comprise the bulk of medical personnel in Nigeria’s tertiary hospitals; hence health activities are mostly crippled when they are on strike. Bearing in mind the effects of the strike actions on patients, especially pregnant women, if prolonged, the Nigerian goverment is now under immense pressure to, as a matter of urgency, to resolve issues surrounding the industrial actions embarked upon by Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors. 

One of such issues is to soften the blow of the cost of living made unbearable by the hike in fuel price and by extension, goods and services in the country.