The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) commenced an indefinite strike on Thursday.
“We commence strike 8 a.m. today while we are still trying to evaluate the federal government’s offer,” the president of the association, Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi said.
The NARD had threatened to commence an ‘indefinite strike’ on Thursday if the Nigerian government fails to meet its demands including non-payment of allowances.
Mr Okhuaihesuyi said the resolution was reached after NARD’s extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on Saturday.
He said the ultimatum given to the federal government to meet the association’s earlier demands expired on March 31, with no significant achievement.
Recall that the Federal Government had pleaded with resident doctors to consider the plight of the 80 per cent of the citizenry in need of Healthcare.
Pleading with them not to embark on strike, the government said the country was in a bad place health-wise because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemics on the health sector.
Speaking at a conciliatory meeting with the leadership of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) yesterday, in Abuja, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige said the majority of the welfare issues under contention were almost resolved even before the letter of complaint and notification of planned strike action was delivered at the ministry.