>
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), has explained that a critical appraisal of the performances of both the Federal and State Governments on all issues that led to its latest industrial action convinced it to suspend the two months old action.
The association had earlier resolved to suspend the industrial action after hours of deliberations at its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Abuja, on Sunday.
The association, which began the strike on August 2, had called on members to resume work on Wednesday, October 6, by 8am.
President of the association, Dr. Dare Godiya Ishaya and the Secretary General, Dr. Suleiman Ismail,at a media briefing in Abuja, on Monday, however tasked the governments at all levels to reciprocate the good faith and trust shown by the association by fulfilling its demands.
According to them,it was imperative for government to ensure the continuous processing and payment of the ongoing 2021 MRTF, while ensuring that provision for 2022 was adequately captured in the 2022 budget.
They also asked the Federal Government to begin the process of withdrawing the court case instituted against the association as agreed, as a sign of goodwill.
The doctors gave governments a six-week ultimatum to implement the decisions reached in the MoU, threatening that any action contrary to the ones agreed would leave them with no alternative than to call for another emergency National Executive Council meeting to decide the next action to take against the governments.
It requested that the governments begin the process of payment of salary arrears of its members that just migrated to the IPPIS from GIFMIS platform.
According to Ishaya,governments has begun payment of medical training allowances in about 20 verified centres across the country.
He said the NEC noted the commendable level of resolutions of issues involving House Officers by the MDCN.
The association said that NEC had noted the willingness of the Head of Service of the Federation to withdraw the obnoxious circular removing House Officers from the Scheme of Service and also acknowledged the explanatory circular from the Salaries, Income and Wages Commission in that regard.
It, however,said it viewed with great concern the conditions of NARD members working in various states, especially, Abia, Imo, Ekiti and Ondo States, who are currently owed salary arrears ranging from 2, six, five and three months respectively.
Ishaya added that the NEC meeting viewed with concern the following perennial issues; non-payment of the shortfalls of 2014 to 2016 to her members despite several engagements with the governments, arrears of national minimum wage consequential adjustment and delay in payment of emoluments.