The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has accused the federal government of misleading Nigerians on the ongoing nationwide strike.
The ministry of labour had announced significant progress on
the doctors’ demands, including a 25–35 percent upward review of the
consolidated medical salary structure and the payment of 2024 accoutrement
allowances.
The ministry added that records on the integrated payroll
and personnel information system indicated that payments had commenced up to
December 2024.
In a statement on Thursday, the association said it received
the statement with “profound disappointment” and described it as a gross
misrepresentation of facts and an attempt to undermine its members’ struggle.
The association said the government’s claim that most of its
demands had been met was false, saying that after reviewing the situation at
its extra-ordinary national executive council meeting on November 17, it found
that “not a single one of our 19 core demands has been fully and verifiably
met”.
NARD said what the ministry presented as progress amounted
to “unfulfilled promises, uncommenced payments, and newly formed committees”,
which it said formed part of the cycle of delay that prompted the strike.
The association rejected the ministry’s announcement that
payments for the 25 percent/ 35 percent CONMESS review and 2024 accoutrement
allowances had begun, adding that its members “have not received these
payments” and that “an announcement of intent is not a substitute for a
credited salary”.
It also dismissed the government’s claim that it was
compiling lists of affected workers for unpaid arrears and specialist
allowances, calling it “a startling admission of inaction” after years of
dialogue.
“The ministry’s release mentions that committees ‘were set
up for necessary actions’ regarding the disengaged doctors of FTH Lokoja,
manpower shortages, and the casualisation of doctors,” the statement reads.
“Constituting a committee is not a resolution; it is often a
bureaucratic tool for indefinite postponement.
“Our demand is for the immediate reinstatement of our
colleagues in Lokoja and the concrete implementation of a one-for-one
replacement policy to curb burnout, not the formation of another talking shop.”
It added that its refusal to sign a new Memorandum of
Understanding was because it would not endorse any agreement “built on a
foundation of unfulfilled promises” or one that lacked binding, time-specific
commitments.
“An MoU that does not guarantee immediate and verifiable
action is not worth the paper it is written on,” the statement added.
The doctors reaffirmed that their “nationwide total,
indefinite, and comprehensive strike” which began on November 15 would continue
until their minimum demands are met, including reinstatement of five disengaged
doctors in Lokoja, payment of outstanding allowances and implementation of the
one-for-one replacement policy.
They urged the government to “shift its energy from crafting
misleading press statements to undertaking the concrete actions required to
resolve this crisis”.
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