Nigeria’s resident doctors on Tuesday indicated they could suspend plans for a nationwide strike scheduled to begin next week after the federal government committed to implementing key agreements within one week, although the association said a final decision rests with its National Executive Council.
Mohamed Suleiman, president of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, dropped the hint after a meeting brokered by Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to the President, at the presidential Villa, Abuja
The meeting had in attendance the leadership of the Association, Ministers of Labour, Health, and Finance, the Director-General of the Budget Office, the Accountant-General, representatives of IPPIS, Cash Management.
Suleiman, while fielding questions from state house journalists, after the meeting, expressed confidence in the office of the Chief of Staff to the President, adding that “I want to put it on record that this is not the first time the Chief of Staff has intervened in matters relating to resident doctors in this country.
“About six or seven years ago, when he was Speaker of the House of Representatives, he intervened, and each time he has gotten involved, our matters have been resolved. And today, I can tell you our matters have been resolved.
“Resolved in the sense that timelines have been agreed upon by various agencies of government.”
He also announced that the meeting agreed to commence the payment of salary arrears and promotion arrears.
“On the call duty allowance issue in LUTH, we have also agreed on a one-week timeline for implementation.
“We have also agreed on the number of house officers to be engaged. And we have agreed that house officers should not have to wait for a whole month before receiving the previous month’s salary. A standing order has been given that before the 10th of every month, salaries of house officers must be paid”
On the issue of promotion arrears, he revealed that “a one-week timeline has been agreed”
“On the Professional Allowance table, the government has made more concessions today on this matter”
The NARD President noted however, that there were still a few things that needed to be clarified.
“There is an outstanding amount which is not as high as we initially thought. Hopefully, the DG Budget will give us a timeline for when that will be paid. They have also extensively discussed mechanisms to raise these funds and pay us.”
Also speaking on the Collective Bargaining Agreement, CBA, Suleiman stated that the Chief of Staff has charged the Ministers of Labour and Health to fast-track its completion so that we will have the circulars and computations for budgetary purposes.
He added that “Whatever is agreed in the CBA will be captured in next year’s budget for implementation”
Suleiman who described the conversations as “very robust”.
On the issues of harassment and assault of doctors, he stated that “31 doctors have been assaulted, and more than 20 other health workers have been assaulted in the last 10 months
“Today, we have agreed that the Ministry of Health will issue directives to hospitals to beef up security and create safe spaces. The Ministry of Health will also engage in public education to ensure that health workers are not assaulted”
He disclosed that the Chief of Staff to the President has taken it upon himself to initiate legislation in the National Assembly so that assault on health workers will be classified as an aggravated offense.
“We are very glad with that. We believe it will send the right signal that health workers should not be assaulted.
“Now, I cannot stand here and tell you that we have called off the strike. What I will say is that I have utmost confidence that what he has done today has moved the needle to a very large extent and has solved our matters.”
He noted that about seven years ago, the government started paying 40% of the actual accrued allowances, which the Tinubu’s government corrected it in February, adding that ” but in the implementation, they did not cover the entire seven years of arrears. They covered from July 2024, that 19-month arrears from the day of implementation is what is to be paid.
“We initially had a figure, but when we looked at the reality and the actual figure, it came down. Because we thought it was a humongous amount, I won’t mention amounts on TV. The reality is that the numbers are much lower, so it is much more reasonable and more affordable for government.”
Speaking on whether the planned strike will be called off, Suleiman said he will discuss the progress made with his Council before they announce the final decision
“There are a lot of positive things. I have National Executive Council members. I will have a conversation with them. I have to report all of this back, sit down, and take a decision.
“Now, I want to be very clear. You are missing the point. The point is that the person who called us for this conversation has never failed resident doctors. That is what I am emphasizing”
The meeting had Olanrewaju Smart, Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly matter (House of Representatives, Tanimu Yakubu, Director General Budget Office, Muhammad Dingyadi, Minister of Labour and Employment and Shuaibu Ibrahim, NARD Secretary General
