Resident doctors suspend their nationwide strike

The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended the nationwide industrial action.

The association began the strike on Monday, September 7 to press home their demand which includes payments of its COVID-19 allowances, health insurance for frontline workers and others.

The President of NARD, Dr Aliyu Sokumba, confirmed the suspension of the strike this evening. The suspension came after the Federal Government and the doctors reached an agreement at a meeting presided over by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, in Abuja today.

At the meeting, the FG made it known that it had paid N9.3bn to insurance companies for Life Group Insurance and payment of death benefits for health workers, adding that enrolment was by the submission of nominal rolls by the various health institutions, which NARD had been mandated at a previous meeting to accomplish.

On the payment of outstanding 2014, 2015, and 2016 arrears, the meeting recalled that it had been agreed that the issue would be further discussed post-COVID-19; therefore, no agreement was breached.

It was further agreed that discussions for review of a Permanent Hazard Allowance for all health workers would commence as soon as possible after consultations by the Minister of Labour and Employment with all stakeholders in the health sector is concluded.