Nigerian Doctors Threaten To Embark On Strike

The Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has said that it may embark on a fresh strike action.

The doctors said they will go on strike if the Federal Government fails to facilitate the reinstatement of its sacked colleagues.

This was contained in a statement by NARD Publicity and Social Secretary, Ugochukwu Eze, on Thursday in Kaduna.

Recall that some doctors were sacked by the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).

The doctors thereafter embarked on a strike calling for the reinstatement of their sacked colleagues, amongst other “lingering issues”.

NARD issued an ultimatum on the matter which expired on May 2. It was thereafter extended by another three weeks to give room for proper dialogue.

The statement by Eze said the 21-day ultimatum issued expired yesterday.

“As the 21 days grace handed over to the federal government to resolve all lingering issues as well as the recalling of its members sacked by the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) elapsed on Thursday May 31.

“We scheduled a meeting for June 2, while warning that we cannot guarantee industrial harmony.

“It may also interest you all that an extraordinary National Executive Council meeting of NARD is scheduled to hold on the 2nd of June, 2018.

“NARD leadership may not be able to guarantee continuous industrial harmony should our legitimate agitations be ignored by government,” the spokesman said.

“NARD on March 27 held an extraordinary National Executive Council meeting where issues pertaining to the unjust sack our members in JUTH were extensively discussed.

“At the end of the meeting, a 30 days ultimatum was issued starting from the 2nd of April, 2018, which elapsed on the 2nd of May, 2018.

“Twelve days after the expiration of the ultimatum, at the Ordinary General Meeting held in ABUTH Zaria from 5th-11th May, 2018, the ultimatum was extended by 21 days to allow government to effect recall of all sacked resident doctors in JUTH.

“Also to meet up with all outstanding agreement contained in our 6th September, 2017, Memorandum of Terms of Settlement. This ultimatum ends tomorrow, 31st May, 2018,’’ he said.

“The September 2017 strike was suspended to allow government complete implementation of the terms of settlement but there are still unmet agreements by the government.

“It may also interest the general public to know that the members of Joint Health Sector Workers Union (JOHESU) have been on strike for the past 44 days.

“Healthcare in the country has been anchored upon the shoulders of resident doctors, mainly (NARD), being the largest single body of doctors in Nigeria,” he said.