By Hassan Zaggi
Barring last minute intervention by prominent Nigerians, the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) may, in the next few days, cripple activities in the health sector in country over unresolved issues with the federal government.
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, which was copied to the Senate President, Speaker, House of Representative, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and 10 others, NARD listed the unresolved issues to include the irregularities in the new circular on upward review of the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), outstanding payment of the arrears of the new hazard allowance and nonpayment of the skipping arrears for 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Other unresolved areas, according to the group, include nonpayment of the consequential adjustment of minimum wage to some of our members, delay in the upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure(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 (MRTA) in most states across the Federation.
NARD recalled that it issued an ultimatum to the Federal Government 6 months ago on account of lingering unresolved issues affecting it members.
While appreciating the efforts of the federal government to resolved the lingering issues, NARD said: “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.”
The letter reads in part: “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 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 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.”
