Nigerian resident doctors are on strike. Stale News! Yes, they have been on strike since Monday following the Federal Government’s alleged failure to meet demands bordering on their welfare. What is interesting however is that striking doctors are to repeat internship.
According to the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, the ongoing strike by members of the National Resident Doctors is illegal. Anyone who partakes in the strike would repeat internship without remuneration. Also, the Minister of Labour and Employment has scolded the striking doctors as one would a little child accusing them of breaching the laws stipulated in the Constitution. Which one? The Section 18 of The Trade Dispute Act of 2004.
This he said on Wednesday, 6th September 2017 at a mediation meeting held at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja. According to some national newspapers, there is a private deliberation between the members of NARD, the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, Minister of State For Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, the leadership of Nigerian Medical Association among others as they hope the strike would be the shortest strike in the nation’s history.
Why are they even repeating history in the first place? The striking residents stressed the noncommittal response of the Federal Government to issues relating to the enrollment of resident doctors into the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System, stagnation of promotion or non-promotion to candidates who have met the required criteria and unpaid arrears of salaries among others.
The Doctors promised to call off the strike only if they receive credit alert from CBN to pay their outstanding fees. Their reason is that the President who got treated abroad, paid the foreign doctors all the medical bills, but now finds it difficult to pay doctors in his country.
