The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has given a condition to avert its planned nationwide strike.
The National Publicity of the NARD, Dr Alfa Yusuf, in an interview with one of our correspondents, said the association would shelve its planned strike if the Federal Government met its demands.
The group, had in a communiqué signed by its NARD Dr Dare Godiya Ishaya, after its meeting in Lafia, Nasarawa State, given the government two weeks to meet its demands, including the welfare of its members.
The doctors are also demanding the immediate implementation and payment of the new Hazard Allowance and arrears as contained in the circular from the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission.
Other demands include the payment of the skipping arrears for 2014, 2015 and 2016 to deserving members and immediate payment of consequential adjustment of minimum wage to its members who have not benefitted since it was implemented several years ago.
The association’s spokesman, Yusuf, in an interview with The PUNCH, explained that the union would meet at the expiration of the two weeks ultimatum to review the issues that were raised in the communique which it released after its National Executive Council meeting.
“If the issues are positively addressed, we will thank them and there might not be a need for us to meet again, we will be appreciative of whatever they have done so we urge them to listen to us because we don’t want to also use this means[strike] to always get our dues.