Resident doctors, FG enter truce to suspend planned strike

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced it will suspend its planned strike following a productive meeting with the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila. The meeting, held at the Presidential Villa, included key government officials such as the Ministers of Labour and Employment, Health, and Finance, as well as directors from the Budget Office and Accountant-General's office.

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Today, I can tell you, our matters are solved.

NARD President, Dr. Muhammad Suleiman, declared that their "matters are solved," citing firm commitments from the Federal Government on nearly all outstanding issues. The association and the government have agreed on specific timelines for resolving disputes related to salaries, promotions, and allowances, which had pushed NARD to the brink of industrial action.

Dr. Suleiman highlighted the Chief of Staff's consistent intervention in matters concerning resident doctors, noting that previous involvements have led to resolutions. "Timelines have been agreed upon by various agencies of government on salary and promotion areas," he stated. Specific agreements include a one-week implementation timeline for the "meal issue" at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and agreed-upon figures and numbers for other benefits.

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Timelines have been agreed upon by various agencies of government on salary and promotion areas. We are talking about the meal issue at LUTH, we are talking about a week for implementation. We have agreed on a figure. We have agreed on numbers.

Regarding delayed salaries for house officers, a standing directive has been issued to ensure they receive their pay promptly. "In fact, he has given a standing order that before the 10th of every month, salaries of house officers must be paid," Dr. Suleiman added. The Presidency has also directed the Ministries of Labour and Employment and Health to expedite the completion of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between NARD and the federal government, ensuring its terms can be included in the next budget cycle.

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We also talked about house officers, so that they don’t have to wait a whole month before they get the previous month’s salaries.

Furthermore, NARD raised concerns about the escalating violence against healthcare workers, reporting 31 doctors and over 20 other health workers assaulted in the past 10 months. The government has indicated a move towards criminalizing such assaults, signaling a commitment to improving the safety and working conditions for medical professionals in Nigeria.

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In fact, he has given a standing order that before the 10th of every month, salaries of house officers must be paid.