The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued a 72-hour ultimatum for the Federal Government to pay the salary arrears of its members on the GIFMIS platform, and that of its Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF).
It stated that for the strike which began on August 2, 2021, to end, the government needs to meet its minimum demands, which also include: payment of withheld August and September salaries, withdrawal of the case against it in court, payment of salary arrears and allowances owed its members in state tertiary health institutions, among others.
The President of the NARD, Dr. Dare Ishaya, made this known in a statement at the end of the Association’s 41st Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Scientific Conference in Bauchi.
He said: “The AGM faulted the federal government for taking NARD to court due to the ongoing strike to demand for the improvement in the welfare of our members.”
They decried the undue hardship members on GIFMIS platform are facing due to the delay in payment of their salaries ranging from three to eight months.
He added that, “The AGM in particular demanded that the federal government should ensure the following urgently for the purpose of restoring normalcy to the health sector: Payment of the Medical Residency Training within 72 hours, since the money meant for it is available and verification of the list for payment has been completed; Payment of the arrears of salaries of our members on GIFMIS platform within 72 hours while the migration process continues; Withdrawal of the case against us in court in the interest of peace; Payment of our withheld August and September salaries.
“The federal government should prevail on various state governments to urgently pay arrears of salaries and allowances owed our members in the state tertiary health institutions as stated above.”
