Resident doctors divided after meeting, to take decision on strike

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has adjourned the meeting of its extraordinary National Executive Council till Wednesday.

The council, according to the National President, Dare Ishaya, was expected to decide on whether or not members of the association should embark on industrial action.

Ripples Nigeria learnt that members were divided in the meeting held on Saturday.

The meeting was convened to decide on the ultimatum issued to state and Federal Governments concerning the doctors’ demands.

The association’s demands include the payment of the newly-reviewed Medical Residency Training Fund; the immediate implementation and payment of the new hazard allowance and arrears among others.

Read also:Nigerian govt disregards medical brain drain, says country has ‘enough doctors’

Speaking with newsmen on Sunday, Ishaya said the council adjourned and would reconvene virtually on Wednesday.

Ishaya said: “We are on recess and we are resuming on Wednesday by 4pm to conclude the meeting. We are on recess because some contentious issues may lead to an unfavourable outcome.

“I have seen some progress and I want the progress to materialise so that I wouldn’t allow the NEC to take decisions based on the mood and I didn’t want the decisions to be taken on some of the issues like the MRTF allowance, hazard allowance and the committee to look into paying them.

“I have seen significant progress but there are some details I don’t have to be able to persuade the majority. Many are convinced but the result is not as overwhelming or as significant as I think, so I don’t want to risk deciding on it.

“We have been making some progress but some say they are not convincing enough while some believe they are convincing. So, I don’t want to have a divided house so that we don’t have an outcome that is not good.”

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now