By Sunday Ameh
The planned nationwide strike by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has been put on hold following a breakthrough meeting between the association and the Federal Government at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The meeting, convened on Tuesday by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, lasted about three hours and ended with both parties agreeing on timelines for resolving the doctors’ outstanding demands.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, NARD President, Dr. Muhammad Suleiman, said virtually all the issues that prompted the strike threat had been addressed, although the association’s National Executive Council (NEC) would make the final decision on suspending the planned industrial action.
According to Suleiman, agreements were reached on salary-related issues, promotions, welfare concerns and other outstanding matters affecting resident doctors.
The meeting was attended by the Ministers of Labour, Health and Finance, as well as the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Director-General of the Budget Office and officials responsible for government cash management and the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
Suleiman commended Gbajabiamila for his intervention, describing him as a consistent mediator in disputes involving resident doctors.
He disclosed that the lingering meal allowance issue at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) had been resolved, with implementation expected within one week.
The NARD president also revealed that the Federal Government had directed that house officers’ salaries be paid on or before the 10th of every month to eliminate persistent delays.
On the Collective Bargaining Agreement, he said the Presidency had instructed the Ministries of Labour and Health to accelerate negotiations so that agreed provisions could be captured in the 2027 budget.
Suleiman further raised concerns over increasing attacks on healthcare workers, revealing that 31 doctors and more than 20 other health personnel had been assaulted in the past 10 months.
He said the Federal Ministry of Health had pledged to strengthen security in public hospitals and embark on public awareness campaigns to discourage attacks on medical workers.
According to him, the Chief of Staff also promised to support legislation that would classify assaults on healthcare workers as aggravated offences.
Addressing the issue of hazard and specialist allowance arrears, Suleiman explained that while the Federal Government had corrected the payment structure earlier this year, outstanding arrears covering about 19 months were yet to be cleared.
He expressed optimism over the outcome of the meeting but stressed that only the association’s NEC could officially suspend the planned strike.
Resident doctors had earlier threatened to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike from August 10 over unpaid salary arrears, welfare concerns and other unresolved demands. However, a source familiar with Tuesday’s meeting disclosed that the association had privately assured the Presidency that the strike would be suspended following the agreements reached.
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