‘President BUHARI: We’ll Abandon Nigerian Hospitals After 21 Days‘ -National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria
*Says: “Poor Infrastructure in Nigerian Hospitals affecting Health Delivery Care to the People”
*Lament: “Our Medical Doctors owe Salaries Three to Eight Months”
*Regret: “We’re being owed at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital Osun State, LAUTECH Ogbomosho Oyo State, IMSUTH Orlu Imo State, Kogi Specialist Hospital, ABSUTH Abia State & Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital”
*Shocked: “Inappropriate Placement/Remuneration in States and Federal Tertiary Institutions” *States: “Fund Hospitals at all Levels, Upgrade Existing Facilities to International Standards”
* “I Will Invoke No Work, No Pay Civil Service Rule”-Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole
BY KOLA OLATEJU/HEALTH REPORTER, LAGOS
NATIONAL Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (NARD) have issued a strong warning to Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari to ensure adequate funding of every hospitals in Nigeria at all levels , upgrade existing facilities to International standards. NARD in a communique made available to us expressed disappointment at the poor infrastructure in Nigerian hospitals where premium values are no longer placed on human lives; which is invariably affecting prompt health care delivery to the people.
Nationwide strike looms as Resident Doctors issue 21-days ultimatum
This communique jointly signed by Dr. Muhammad Adamu Askira (President), Dr. Ibrahim Shettima Bukuru (Secretary General) and Publicity Secretary, Dr. Uhuaba Eugene Ahuruezema on March 31, 2016 at National Hospital, Abuja detailed how some state governments’ hospital has been owing between three to eight months salaries without making enough to pay those resident doctors.
NARD want President Buhari to instruct state governments involve in this anti-human policies of not paying resident doctors salaries as at when due to direct them to pay off the accrued fund else Nigerian hospitals would be abandoned at the end of the ultimatum.
The communique says in line with their resolution, NARD declare a 21 day Ultimatum with effect from Monday, April 4, 2016 to press home their demands following which industrial harmony in their various may not be guaranteed if the existing realities are not resolved.
These obviously angry doctors argued that they took the decision due to inability of training institutions to pay members their salaries ranging from three to eight months and payment of fractions of salaries in most cases.
These doctors lament that in spite of the strike that has paralyzed the health sector in Osun State and attendant loss of lives, the Governor of the state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola remains nonchalant in terms of responding to the lawful demands of the resident doctors. NARD raised issue of sack of some of their members and inappropriate placement in terms of remuneration of members as part of their grouse.
The communique reads: “Whereas a labourer deserves his wages, we noted that some of our members in some state owned tertiary hospitals have not been paid salaries, ranging from three to eight months. Most notable are LAUTECH Teaching Hospital Osogbo in Osun State, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso in Oyo State, IMSUTH, Orlu, Imo State, Kogi Specialist Hospital, ABSUTH Aba in Abia State and Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital.
“Most worrisome is the government of Osun State that remained unperturbed despite the total collapse of health care delivery in the state and its attendant loss of lives…We urge the government at all levels to release and implement residency training guidelines with appropriate budgetary backing.
“In line with the above realities, NARD declares a 21-day ultimatum with effect from Monday, 4th April, 2016 to press home our demands following which industrial harmony in our various hospitals may not be guaranteed if the existing realities are not resolved.”.
This is inspite of the veiled threat by Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole to invoke the civil service rule of “no work, no pay”, NARD on Monday issued the Federal Government a 21-days ultimatum “following which industrial harmony in various hospitals may not be guaranteed.”
The is the position of NARD as contained in their latest communique at addressing health challenges of Nigerians, obstacles working against Nigerian medical doctors and reasons resident doctors’ salaries should never ever be delayed for any reason.
Why are these doctors issueing threats to the Federal Government when their employers who failing to pay them are state Governments ? Those NARD doctors working in Federal institutions have no bussiness withholding their services.