Resident Doctors Suspend 29-Day Strike After Signing MoU with FG
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, has suspended its indefinite strike, 29 days after the industrial action began on 1 November.
NARD National President, Dr. Mohammad Suleiman, announced the suspension on Saturday on his X handle, @mohagirei, following an extraordinary National Executive Council, NEC, meeting.
He said the decision came after a series of conciliatory meetings with the Federal Government, which culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, outlining the status of the association’s 19-point demands.
Suleiman explained that the payment of promotion arrears remained outstanding, noting that Chief Medical Directors and Managing Directors were still compiling the arrears. A four-week deadline has been set for payment.
He added that salary arrears were also expected to be cleared within the same four-week window in line with the agreement.
On the specialist allowance, he said the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, OHCSF, had already issued a clear directive, while the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission was expected to take necessary steps for implementation.
On the case of the “Lokoja Five”—resident doctors disengaged from the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja—Suleiman said the committee report recommended their reabsorption, expected to be completed within two weeks.
He added that NARD and the Federal Government were finalising processes for addressing failed or omitted payments relating to the 25/35 per cent review and accoutrement allowance.
According to him, lists of residents due for upgrade were still being awaited from centre leaders to allow completion of the upgrade process, adding that the Post-Assessment Tool, PAT, had been released.
He said the issue of skipping and entry-level placement had been resolved following a directive from the OHCSF, while all outstanding matters relating to house officers had also been settled.
Suleiman noted that an interim directive had been issued to CMDs and MDs to stop what the association described as “obnoxious clauses” in locum engagements. An advisory was also issued to health facility heads to limit excessive call duties and ensure adequate breaks for doctors.
He said committees set up to review the locum policy and regulate work hours were expected to produce comprehensive policy documents within two months.
Suleiman added that the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) process would resume as soon as possible, alongside discussions on the consultant cadre for other health professionals. He added that the special pensions committee was also expected to resume sitting.
The NEC, he said, resolved to suspend the strike for four weeks “to allow room and show this uncommon gesture while we follow up implementation”.
He acknowledged the efforts of doctors nationwide, saying progress had been significant. “Mistakes have also been made. Kindly rest those mistakes solely on my shoulders as president,” he stated.
Suleiman warned that failure to fully implement the agreed items would lead to the lifting of the suspension and a resumption of the strike.
He said the four-week countdown would begin on Monday and serve as a reminder to Nigerians and the Federal Government to use the window “justly and fully”.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that the Nov. 1 strike was declared over unpaid arrears, stalled promotions, allowances, staffing gaps, and other welfare-related grievances.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
