NARD orders members owed salaries to withdraw services

The National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, has directed its members whose salaries are yet to be paid to withdraw their services pending when their salaries and other demands are met by the federal government.

The national president of the association, Adamu Akira, disclosed this while addressing a news conference at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, adding that the government has failed to respect agreement reached with the union at a recent meeting.

Akira said that agreement was reached with the government to meet their demands during the just-concluded National Executive Council meeting held between July 23 and 30 in Keffi.

He explained, “During that meeting, deliberations were made and agreement reached but unfortunately, that promise has not been kept, and our members’ salaries have still not been paid.

“In the line of the current situation, the National leadership of the Union resolved to shut down all affected hospitals until the issues are properly resolved.”

While commending the Buhari administration for handling issues maturely, he maintained that meeting their demands should be one of their major priorities of the government.

“It is disheartening to note that unduly sacked resident doctors are yet to be recalled as agreed, Health Sector Intervention Fund yet to be accessed and many doctors are still being subjected to various forms of victimization.

“Therefore, having respected government’s excuses during our meetings, I see no reason for government not respecting our demands,” he argued.