- You’ll be paid on Thursday, FG promises
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has declared that it would embark on an indefinite strike on June 15 over the alleged failure by the government to redeem its pledges, particularly on salary arrears and working conditions.
The NARD President, Aliyu Sokomba and Secretary-General Bilqis, in a letter to the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, said doctors managing COVID-19 patients and other emergencies would be part of the “total” strike.
The association demanded, among other things, immediate reversal of the “illegal” disengagement of all 26 resident doctors in Jos University Teaching Hospital, payment of all arrears owed its members in federal and states tertiary health institutions, stoppage and immediate refund of all cuts in salaries of it members by Kaduna State and other state governments.
But the Federal government, apparently to nip the strike in the bud, promised to promptly pay hazard and inducement allowance to all health workers on the frontline of the battle against the Coronavirus pandemic this week.
It said the health workers will receive two months’ pay for April and May before the close of work on Thursday.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, broke the news in Abuja after a meeting with the leadership of health professionals.
Ngige was accompanied at the meeting by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo (SAN); the Accountant General of the Federation, Idris Ahmed and the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora.
The health workers were represented by the leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).
The government, in April, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with health professional associations and unions for health workers on the frontline of the battle against the pandemic to get special incentives, including hazard allowance, insurance and tax rebates.