Lara Adejoro
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has petitioned the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire on lingering unresolved issues affecting its members.
The NARD says if the issues are not resolved before its January 2023 National Executive Council meeting, scheduled for January 24th to 28th 2023, the doctors may embark on nationwide industrial disharmony in the health sector.
The resident doctors, in the letter dated January 5, 2023, signed by the President and Secretary General of the association, Dr. Emeka Orji and Chikezie Kelechi respectively, said it had issued an ultimatum to the Federal Government six months ago on account of lingering unresolved issues affecting its members.
The doctors noted that the lingering unresolved issues include the irregularities in the new circular on the upward review of the Medical Residency Training Fund, outstanding payment of the arrears of the new hazard allowance, and non-payment of the skipping arrears for 2014, 2015, and 2016.
Other issues are the non-payment of the consequential adjustment of the minimum wage to some of our members, and the delay in the upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, among others.
According to the letter, the association said it issued an ultimatum to the Federal Government six months ago on account of the lingering issues.
The letter titled ‘Imminent nationwide industrial harmony in the health sector: A matter of urgent administrative importance’ read in part, “Recall Sir, that NARD issued an ultimatum to the Federal Government 6 months ago on account of lingering unresolved issues affecting our members, including the irregularities in the new circular on the upward review of the Medical Residency Training Fund, outstanding payment of the arrears of the new hazard allowance, non-payment of the skipping arrears for 2014, 2015 and 2016, non-payment of the consequential adjustment of the minimum wage to some of our members, delay in the upward review of the CONMESS, salary arrears of our members in State Tertiary Health Institutions running into several months, including Abia, Imo, Ondo, Ekiti, and Gombe States, and non-domestication of the Medical Residency Training Act in most states across the Federation.
“We sincerely appreciate the efforts of the government through its ministries, departments, and agencies in resolving some of the issues raised. However, many of them remain largely unresolved and have now become sources of serious nationwide agitation threatening industrial peace and harmony in the health sector.
“Notable ones amongst them include omitted 2020 MRTF payment; irregularities in the new MRTF circular inconsistent with the Medical Residency Training Act, existing Collective Bargaining Agreements, and current economic realities and review of CONMESS salary Structure.
“Sir, our January 2023 National Executive Council meeting has been scheduled for January 24th to 28th 2023, and we can confirm very clear feelers that if these issues are not sorted out before that meeting, our members will likely give us the mandate to immediately kick-start processes that will lead to a nationwide industrial disharmony in the health sector.
“Sir, we know how critical this period is and the chaos that will ensue if the government does not take steps to prevent this from happening, and so we humbly implore you to use your good offices to resolve these issues before our January NEC meeting.
“Sir, we trust in your fatherly disposition and believe that you will come to our aid and save this nation from this imminent industrial disharmony.”
When contacted, the Deputy Director/Head, Media and Publicity of the Federal Ministry of Health, Ahmadu Chindaya said he was not aware of the letter yet.
He said, “The petition comes to the Permanent Secretary’s office. It has to take processes, it has to go to the table of the Permanent Secretary. This is news to me, I didn’t know, I’m not aware because all official letters come through the upper registry, which is the first point of call, they have to stamp and receive it, process it, and push it further. So, I don’t know about it.”
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