The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD ) yesterday commenced indefinite industrial action over unpaid remuneration and unsettled demands. The doctors made the resolve after several hours of closed door meeting with the federal government, which yielded ‘no result’.He expressed sadness over the ill-treatment of resident doctors in some states adding that some of them are being owed their salaries for several months.
“When we say unpaid salaries, we are not talking of promotion arrears or allowances, we are talking of fractions of unpaid basic consolidated salaries.
In 2015, some of our members at University of Port Harcourt, Uyo among others did not receive their basic salaries for different months in the year and between January to May 2017, almost all our members in different federal tertiary institutions have not received their full salaries.
“Those in state institutions are not left out. Imo State Teaching Hospital, LAUTECH Ogbomoso, Oshogbo, among others,” he added.
He also said that though the minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole made effort to address the situation, it seemed there are some ‘forces’ working hard to ensure the demands of the doctors are not met.
The NARD president also accused some government parastatals of frustrating efforts towards addressing the issue.
“These technocrats, the office of head of service who have refused to ensure that proper budgeting was captured for our members are part of the problem,” he said.
Source:Leadership
