Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, has suspended its planned nationwide strike following a high-level meeting with the Presidency.
The meeting, chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, brought together officials from the Ministries of Health, Labour and Finance, alongside other key government agencies.
Speaking after the meeting, NARD President, Dr. Muhammad Suleiman, said the Federal Government had agreed to timelines for resolving outstanding issues, including salary arrears, promotions, allowances and the payment of house officers.
According to him, the Presidency also directed that house officers’ salaries be paid on or before the 10th of every month and pledged to accelerate the implementation of the doctors’ Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The association also raised concerns over the increasing attacks on health workers, with the government promising stronger hospital security, public awareness campaigns and proposed legislation to make assaults on healthcare workers a more serious criminal offence.
Although the union is yet to make a formal announcement, Dr. Suleiman expressed confidence that the agreements reached have addressed the major concerns that prompted the planned industrial action.
Resident doctors had earlier threatened to begin an indefinite nationwide strike on August 10 over unresolved welfare and remuneration issues.
