By Asma’u Ahmad
The National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (NARD) said it will embark on a five-day warning strike on Wednesday, May 11.
National President of the association, Dr. Muhammad Askira disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja.
Dr. Askira explained that the decision was part of resolutions reached by the association at its extra ordinary executive council meeting held on May 8.
He said that government was yet to meet their demands as promised.
He said the demands by the association include remuneration and residency training programmes, adding that some members in some states are yet to be paid their salaries.
He said that doctors in Federal Teaching Hospitals were among those whose salaries were yet to be paid.
Askira noted that the strike, which would begin at 8 a.m. on May 11 would end on May 15, while all it members are expected to resume work on May 16 at 8 a.m.
He said that the decision was to push home their demands for implementation on one hand and also to enable government enough time to expedite action in areas not adequately addressed.
He said: “These are issues that have been lingering for years, we gave them a 21-day ultimatum and extended the ultimatum with another 14 days, and we gave them another two more days before the warning strike.
“It is quite unfortunate that after all these we are embarking on a warning strike, we are supposed to proceed on an indefinite strike but we decided to proceed on a warning strike.”
He added that the association decided to shelve the indefinite strike because of the respect it has for President Muhammadu Buhari and some National Assembly members that had intervened.
He, however said that the association would embark on an indefinite strike after the five-day warning strike, if government fails to redeem its pledge.
