Talks between the FG and resident doctors on the strike

 The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors and the Federal Government have started talking about the requests of the doctors. Dr. Yusuf Alfa, the NARD publicity secretary, revealed this in a chat with our correspondent. On July 30, 2022, the resident doctors gave the federal government a two-week deadline to fulfill all of the agreements it had with the association, failing which they would go on an indefinite strike. The doctors are requesting that the Federal Government act quickly to pay the recently reviewed Medical Residency Training Fund so that their members can register for exams before the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria's announced deadline.

The National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission's circular containing the new hazard allowance and arrears must also be immediately implemented and paid, according to their demands. The NARD is requesting the prompt payment of the consequential adjustment of the minimum wage to members who have been denied since it was adopted several years ago, as well as the payment of the skipping arrears for the years 2014, 2015, and 2016 to worthy members. Other demands include paying back doctors' salary arrears in the states of Abia (26 months), Imo (10 months), Ondo (five months), Ekiti (three months), and Gombe (two months), among others, given the nation's current economic position.

The reports state that the association is now meeting with government representatives to discuss its concerns. We are meeting with government representatives, but it won't be a full-table round-table conversation, he said. We are meeting with representatives of the government to discuss how to resolve the problems before the deadline expires. "So far, so good. We are meeting new people, and we are getting some favorable feedback, but it hasn't translated into what we want. Some of the state governors pledged to pay a portion of the salaries that our members are owed, but nothing has been done.

We hope that all of these issues will be resolved before the deadline set forth in our ultimatum, even though progress on the hazard allowance and Medical Residency Training Fund is slow. "While we have received some circulars about the MRTF, the financial details have not yet arrived. The process for the hazard allowance is still in progress, but we have not yet received any information on the payout. Dr. Osagie Ehanire, the minister of health, was approached by our correspondent for remarks, but as of the time this article was filed, he had not returned calls or texts.

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