The National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria has begun an indefinite nationwide strike following the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum.
NARD President, Dr Aliyu Sokomba, announced this on Monday in a press conference held in Abuja.
Sokomba said the union decided to exempt its members working in various coronavirus (COVID-19) isolation and treatment centres across the country.
He said the exemption was for two weeks before they join the industrial action.
The industrial action followed the virtual extra-ordinary National Executive Council meeting of the association held on Sunday.
Sokomba decried the deplorable state of hospitals and the lack of protective equipment for members of the union treating COVID-19 patients.
He said this has exposed many of their colleagues to coronavirus and resulted in the death of some of them.
All resident doctors, medical officers below the rank of principal medical officer (PMO), and house officers across all federal and state hospitals in Nigeria are expected to join the strike.
Among the union’s demands is the provision of adequate PPE for all healthcare workers and immediate reversal of the disengagement of all 26 resident doctors at the University Teaching Hospital in Jos, Plateau State capital; implementation of the Medical Residency Training Act in all federal and state hospitals and ensuring pay parity among doctors of equal cadre.
