Resident doctors suspend planned protest
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on Tuesday, suspended its planned nationwide daily protest after a closed-door meeting with principal officers of the senate.
“We met with the Senate president, majority and minority leaders and Whip. So, the planned protest slated for Wednesday has been suspended and we will review it again in 72 hours,” the President of NARD, Emeka Orji said after the meeting.
The striking doctors had earlier planned to commence a daily peaceful protest, starting from Wednesday, if the government fails to meet its demands.
The decision followed the directive by the Federal Government to the Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of federal tertiary hospitals to commence the enforcement of the “no work, no pay” policy against the striking doctors.
The doctors embarked on an indefinite industrial action on July 26, following the failure of the government to meet their demands.
The doctors are demanding the implementation of the one-for-one replacement policy for healthcare workers.
They also want the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to stop downgrading membership certificate issued by West African Postgraduate Medical and Surgical Colleges.
The doctors also want immediate payment of all salary arrears; implementation of Consolidated Medical Salary Structure; a new hazard allowance; and the domestication of Medical Residency Training Act, among others.
