Resident doctors call off nationwide strike

Resident doctors have called off their nationwide
strike.

The doctors, under the umbrella body National
Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), had embarked
on an industrial action on Monday to protest the the
non-payment 10 months salaries of some of its
members.

They also demanded an end to inappropriate placement
of members in both states and federal tertiary hospitals
across the nation, as well as the sacking of members
in some hospitals, and under-funding of the residency
training programme.

In response to the action of the doctors, the
government on Tuesday ordered its health institutions
to declare their positions vacant.

But on Saturday, Mohammed Askira, president of
NARD, announced that the association had ended the
strike.

He called on the government to implement the
agreement it reached with the association before July
14, assuring his colleagues that none of them would be
victimised for joining the struggle.

He added that resident doctors would resume duties on
June 27, saying that the strike was called off to reduce
the suffering of Nigerians who have had no access to
medical care since the beginning of the action.