The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) yesterday commenced an indefinite industrial action.
The declaration has sent panic to hospitals nationwide.
NARD is demanding immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), immediate release of the circular on one-for-one replacement, and payment of skipping arrears
The National President of the association, Dr Innocent Orji, confirmed that his members were poised to make the strike effective.
Others are an upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) in line with full salary restoration to the 2014 value of CONMESS and payment of arrears of the consequential adjustment of the minimum wage to omitted doctors.
The association also demands the reversal of the downgrading of the membership certificate by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).
The association had, in a communique on July 5 after its virtual Extraordinary National Executive Council Meeting (E-NEC), issued a fresh notice to the Federal Government to meet its demands within two weeks or risk industrial disharmony in the health sector.
The communique was signed jointly by NARD’s National President, the Secretary-General, Dr Chikezie Kelechi, and the Publicity and Social Secretary, Dr Umar Musa.
NAN also reports that members of the association embarked on a five-day warning strike on May 17, urging the Federal Government to address its concerns before May 29 otherwise there would be industrial disharmony.
The industrial action was embarked upon after the two-week ultimatum issued on April 29 expired on May 13.
Members of the association however suspended the strike on May 21.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas had on Monday urged the resident doctors to suspend the impending strike during a meeting between the leadership of the House and NARD in Abuja.
He said, “I urge you to suspend the impending industrial action while we intervene, and seek your understanding of the fact that a new administration just came on board.”
He further said that the administration was still in the process of settling down as ministers were yet to assume office.
He said NARD’s decision to meet with the House was an affirmation of their faith and confidence in the House’s capacity to intervene and resolve the lingering issues in dispute.
*We’re looking into NARD’s demands, says FG
Meanwhile, the Federal Government yesterday said it was looking into the demands made by the striking resident doctors.
Fielding questions from journalists on the efforts of the government to address the demands of the doctors on the side-lines of the 6th Registrar of Trade Unions’ National Workshop in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Daju Kachollom, said there was ongoing consultation between the striking doctors and government.
Though she expressed surprise that the doctors declared an industrial dispute when consultations had been taken to a higher level, the Permanent Secretary assured that no efforts would be spared to ensure an amicable resolution of all the contentious issues.
She said the resident doctors ought to have allowed the ongoing negotiations with the federal government to reach an agreed conclusion before deciding on a strike.
Kachollom explained that the transition into the new government of President Bola Tinubu has delayed the process of negotiations.
According to her, “It’s rather unfortunate that NARD is on strike because we have been having consultations since May to be precise on the demands they raised and we have met quite several times and governments have assured them that the issues raised are being looked into.
“There was a transition and we all know that in a transition there is a process and until the process is completed, there is nothing we can do. Unfortunately, they decided to go on strike, we have taken the consultation to the highest level on the issues raised.
“The government has assured them and continues to assure them that the demands raised will be looked into.”
On the way forward, Kachollom, who recently settled the disagreement between the Management of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF, with labour unions within the Fund, said, “We’re still going to engage them further beyond where we have because we have been engaging and I’m sure the president of NARD cannot say that we have not been engaged, I will just say (they have) to believe in what government is doing”.
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Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary said that the 6th Registrar of Trade Unions’ National Workshop was organised to strengthen the labour administration system in Nigeria.
Kachollom said the theme of the Workshop “Repositioning the Labour Administration System for Effective Socio-Economic Development in Nigeria,” will equip participants with the knowledge, skills, and expertise to efficiently manage trade union affairs, workplace disputes, jurisdictional scope dynamics, and unfair labour practices.
She said, “The promotion of quality professional service delivery in line with international best practice, is one of the cardinal mandates of this Ministry. It is against this backdrop that the theme of this year’s workshop which is “Repositioning the Labour Administration System for Effective Socio-Economic Development in Nigeria” becomes very apt and timely, noting that effective Labour Administration is key to national development everywhere in the world.
“Incidentally, this aligns with the policy thrust of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Administration. The essence of this Workshop therefore, amongst others, is to acquaint participants with current trends and contemporary issues affecting Labour Administration in Nigeria, and its implication for sustainable development.
“Furthermore, the Workshop will equip participants with the knowledge, skills, and expertise to efficiently manage trade union affairs, workplace disputes, jurisdictional scope dynamics, and unfair labour practices. It will also prepare stakeholders on how to handle the current challenges faced in the world of work, as well as how to harness the opportunities presented by the future of work in Nigeria.
“Fundamental thematic Labour Administration concepts and principles such as Social Dialogue, Negotiation, and Collective Bargaining as tools for shaping the Future of Work, improving organizational productivity and workers’ welfare will be discussed.
“Additionally, carefully selected experts in the labour sector will be driving discussions on Innovative and Creative Economic Growth Plans and policies, Trade Union Administration, as well as Adjudication Processes of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) concerning Jurisdictional Scope issues.”
*Labour begins mobilisation for nationwide strike, mass protest on August 2
The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has commenced mobilisation for mass protest and strike over pains most Nigerians are suffering in the wake of the fuel subsidy removal policy.
President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero broke the information yesterday after the Central Working Committee meeting of the Congress in Abuja.
Reading out the communique at the end of the meeting, Ajaero said we call on all civil society organisations and Nigerians wherever they may be to begin mobilization to take action on their own to save our nation.
“To lead and organize mass protest rallies across the nation to demonstrate outrage against the inhuman actions and policies of the government and to give the federal government a Seven – Day ultimatum within which to meet all our demands and to embark on a nationwide action beginning Wednesday the 2nd of August, 2023 to compel the government to reverse its anti-poor and anti-workers policies.
“Consequently direct all Affiliates and State Councils to begin immediate mobilisation and closely work with associations, individuals, and other entities including the ones already on the streets to ensure that government listens to the people.”
Recall that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu while delivering his inauguration speech as the 16th President of Nigeria, announced the removal of subsidy on fuel products, a development that snowballed into an instant hike in the price of the commodity nationwide.
Reviewing the situation, Ajaero said the CWC-in-Session exhaustively deliberated on the crippling economic situation facing Nigerians and its attendant consequences of mass suffering, poverty, and angst pervading Nigerian workers and peoples which are clear resultants of the insensitive policies and actions of the present Administration.
He recalled how on the 29th day of May, 2023, the President gave Nigerians an inaugural shocking gift by increasing the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from N185 to N500; insisting that the action was strongly condemned by various Organs of Congress because of the massive suffering it imposed on the lives of Nigerians.
“As if that was not enough, the federal government through the instrumentality of the NNPCL effected a further hike in the price of PMS to N617 per litre without having addressed the dire consequences which the earlier hike had imposed on Nigerians.
“Other anti-poor policies have since been unleashed on Nigerians which have left workers and masses reeling and deeply impoverished,” the NLC President noted.
Ajaero said CWC at its meeting has observed how the federal government has been showing disdain and contempt for Nigerian people and workers having acted and continued to act without regard to the welfare and cries of the citizenry.
He said the Government seems to have declared a war of attrition on Nigerian workers and masses without any care leaving them in the throes of hopelessness and helplessness.
He equally noted that the federal government has refused to put in place safeguards to protect Nigerians from the harsh economic situation that its policies have inflicted on the people rather it has decided to insult the sensibilities of Nigerian masses by offering us N8,000 per family and offering themselves N70bn.
According to the NLC leadership, the federal government has frustrated and abandoned its own Committee which was a product of social dialogue between the government and workers organisations in the country. While the Committee has not met, the government embarked on unilateral actions and programmes.
“Since Mr President’s ‘subsidy is gone forever’ speech on inauguration day; the peace of mind of Nigerians has gone; decent living gone increasing despair of unimaginable dimensions.
“The Federal Government has continued to treat Nigerians as Slaves and a conquered people which it treats with impunity without any concern on the consequences.
“The Federal Government has continued in an unholy mission of robbing the poor to pay the rich in Nigeria as typified by its continued frustration of the activation of the agreed alternatives to Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and new hike in prices of PMS to N617 per litre.
“The Federal Government has continued to promote the gang up of the ruling elite against Nigerian people and workers.
“We have observed that the federal government has continued to churn out without relenting policies designed to emasculate Nigerian workers and people via not just increases in PMS prices with its spiralling effect but also increases in VAT, increases in School fees across all Publicly owned Secondary and Tertiary institutions of learning
“The NNPCL has turned itself into the forces of demand and supply and fixes the price of Petroleum products while mouthing deregulation. Government’s conduct suggests it does not intend to commit itself to the MoU it signed with NLC and TUC,” the CWC of NLC lamented.
The apex Labour Union said Nigerians are outraged and have been putting pressure on the NLC to lead them in protest against the increases in the pump price of PMS.
He revealed that the pressure has come to a breaking point and given the Government’s continued indifference to the plight of the poor, resolved that it would not be a party to the killing of poor Nigerian workers and masses.
Lamenting the situation further, NLC said it is the responsibility of men and women of conscience propelled by patriotic zeal to take necessary action to protect democracy and our beloved nation since it is clear that the federal government is not interested in discussions having exhausted half of the agreed 8 weeks without activating the Presiding Steering Committee.
“The CWC-in-session subsequently resolved as follows that there should be the immediate reversal of all anti-poor policies of the federal government including the recent hike in PMS price, Increase in Public School fees, the release of the 8 months withheld salary of university lecturers and workers and increase in VAT.
“Order the immediate inauguration of the Presidential Steering Committee as agreed in the earlier consequential dialogues and to begin the building across the nation of a Coalition of all Nigerians where all will be leaders and all will be followers,” the communique added.
