Hours After Third Coronavirus Case, Nigerian Doctors Begin Strike

Few hours after Nigeria recorded its third coronavirus case, the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Abuja chapter, announced they are proceeding on an indefinite strike.

According to the doctors, the decision was taken after deep consideration of the threats posed by the coronavirus, the work condition of doctors and patient care.

The president of the association Roland Aigbovo, in a statement, disclosed that the agreement to go on strike was as a result of the failure of the FCT administration to pay them their basic salaries for more than two months.

He said there had been salary irregularities and shortfalls since the migration to the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) by the FCTA.

Aigbovo said since the implementation of IPPIS, the union had given several ultimatum to the FCTA  but the authorities turned deaf ears to their plights thereby pushing their members into financial stress.

He, however, warned that other affected health workers would join the mass action within 48 hours if their demands were not met. 

Recall that Nigeria had confirmed the third case of Coronavirus in Lagos on Tuesday.

The case which is a 30-year-old Nigerian woman travelled from the UK to Lagos on the 13th of March 2020.