Following the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum, the National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria on Monday commenced a nationwide strike.
President of NARD, Aliyu Sokomba, made this announcement on Monday in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
According to Sokomba, the union has decided to exempt its members working in various coronavirus (COVID-19) isolation and treatment centres across the country.
He noted that the exemption was a demonstration of goodwill to Nigerians and in appreciation of the efforts and sincerity of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajamila, and other stakeholders in resolving the issues.
Sokomba, however, stated that exemption of the members attending to COVID-19 patients was for two weeks before they join the industrial action.
He explained that the union took the decision to go on strike as a result of the failed series of meetings between the doctors and the Federal Government in the last two weeks.
According to the NARD president, the meetings have failed to resolve the lingering industrial disputes which include the non-payment of special allowances for the resident doctors.
He also decried the deplorable state of hospitals and the lack of protective equipment for members of the union treating COVID-19 patients.
Sokomba added that this has exposed many of their colleagues to coronavirus and resulted in the death of some of them.
