•Tinubu and medical doctors
As the strike action by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) continues, the industrial action has significantly affected healthcare delivery across the country.
The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako, has appealed to the striking doctors to suspend the strike, stating that the Federal Government has met most of their demands, reports Channels TV.
Speaking at a news conference in Abuja, the minister said the federal government has cleared about 60 per cent of the backlog of arrears owed to health workers.
However, the President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, Dr. Mohammed Suleiman, emphasised the need for further dialogue to holistically address all outstanding issues.
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has stated that its nationwide “total, comprehensive, and indefinite” strike, which began on Saturday, will continue until the federal government fully meets its demands.
NARD listed several unresolved demands, including unpaid arrears, allowances, and entitlements such as the 25/35 percent CONMESS review, promotion arrears, upgrade arrears, and accoutrement allowance, some of which have been pending for over five years.
The association described these demands as the minimum necessary to sustain the nation’s healthcare system and uphold the dignity of medical practice.
Hours after NARD announced its indefinite strike, the federal government stated that it would release ₦11.99 billion within 72 hours to settle part of the salary and allowance arrears owed to medical professionals across the country.
