Resident doctors under the aegis of Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) have suspended the indefinite strike which they embarked on since July 26.
Its National President, Dr. Innocent Orji, in a Whatsapp message to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that a review will be made in two weeks.
He said “we just suspended the strike. Work to resume by 8 a.m. tomorrow (Saturday, Aug. 12).
“We will review progress made in two weeks.”
This is coming after series of interventions by various stakeholders for the association to either embark on the industrial action in the first place or to suspend it earlier.
To avert the industrial action, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas on July 24, called on the resident doctors to suspend the strike.
At a meeting between the leadership of the House and NARD in Abuja, Abbas said: “I would urge you to suspend the industrial action while we intervene, and seek your understanding of the fact that a new administration just came on board.”
He said that the adminsitration was still in the process of settling down as ministers had yet to assume office.
In addition to the strike, the association had planned to stage protests and picket tertiary health institutions and the Federal Ministry of Health.
However, following the intervention of the Presidency and the Senate President, the protests were suspended.
NAN reports that members of the association embarked on indefinite strike to press home their demands.
The demands include the 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.
