Resident doctors at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, have officially resumed their medical duties following a month-long nationwide strike that had paralyzed clinical services across multiple healthcare facilities. Okay News reports that the industrial action, which commenced on November 1, was initiated by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors after negotiations with the government failed to yield satisfactory responses to their demands.
The striking doctors had sought a 200 per cent increase in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, full implementation of newly proposed allowances dating back to July 2022, the urgent recruitment of clinical staff, and the elimination of bureaucratic delays that had impeded the replacement of outgoing doctors, among other key concerns.
Dr. Gboyega Ajibola, the President of the University College Hospital chapter of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, revealed that the NARD National Executive Council convened on November 29 to evaluate the progress of negotiations. According to him, “the government had met most of our immediate and short-term demands.”
Ajibola confirmed that a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with government representatives, clearly outlining the association’s requests and the timelines for their fulfillment. “Based on the satisfactory terms of the MoU, the NARD National Executive Council decided to suspend the industrial action and allow the government four weeks to execute the agreed points,” he stated.
In accordance with NARD tradition, each centre held a congress on December 1 to inform members of the latest developments. Following these briefings, centre presidents directed all resident doctors to return to their workstations. Ajibola affirmed that all resident doctors at UCH reported for duty on Monday, marking the end of the strike.
