The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has served a two weeks ultimatum to the Federal and State Governments to press home members lingering demands.
Dr Godiya Ishaya, the President of the association, issued the ultimatum during a news conference organised at the end of the Extraordinary National Executive Council (E-NEC) Meeting on Sunday in Ilorin.
The E-NEC meeting which was hosted by the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), had in attendance 79 chapters of the association from both state and federal tertiary health institutions across Nigeria.
According to Ishaya, NARD resolved to further extend thenultimatum by another two weeks after observing the federal government efforts as a show of goodwill from the association.
“This we believe will give the Federal Government adequate time to substantiate their efforts with results which will avert industrial harmony,” he said.
The NARD president urged the federal government to urgently implement and commence payment of the 2022 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) in full to members using the old template, while the shortfalls, using the reviewed template be computed and incorporated into 2023 budget and paid in arrears.
He said that the association would continue to work closely with the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) towards implementation and payment of the new hazard allowance to all affected healthcare workers by the government.
Ishaya lamented the slow pace encountered in the payment of the 2020 MRTF to members who were omitted, while decrying the worsening spate of brain drain in healthcare system leading to a perpetual shortage of manpower with attendant burnout.
“The deplorable situation has led to the shutdown of the Federal Medical Centre, Owo,” he said.