NARD Hopeful That FG Will Pay Hazard Allowance To Avert Strike
On Sunday, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) stated that the Federal Government has yet to reach out to it for a possible meeting regarding the two-week ultimatum the union declared following the failure of the government to implement the new hazard allowance rate that was proposed in December 2021.
However, the association expressed its hope that the government will do its duty to avert strike action.
In a circular dated December 21, 2021, the National Salaries, Wages and Income Commission announced the approval of the new hazard allowance rate which has yet to be implemented.
Last week, the NARD had, during a National Executive Council meeting held in Nasarawa State, called on the government to implement the new hazard allowance rate or face a strike. The union gave a two-week ultimatum.
Speaking with a Punch correspondent in an interview in Abuja, the National Publicity Secretary, NARD, Dr. Alfa Yusuf, noted that the government has yet to reach out to the union.
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“The government has not called us for any official meeting yet as regards to that. The association is trying its best to see how the government will address the concern and demands of the association, strike is not what everybody wants especially in the health care sector but then, looking at the way the country is, sometimes it just makes you use your last resort to ask for what is your right that naturally should come without you even asking.
“We hope and think before the expiration of the ultimatum, the government will see the need to address all our demands and concerns so that there won’t be need for any industrial action. There is no fixed amount the association is asking from the government but there are several demands as contained in our communiqué we want them to address.”
Efforts to reach the Health Minister, Dr. Osagie Ehanire proved abortive as calls and messages sent to his line proved abortive.
The PUNCH reports that doctors in Nigeria have continued to migrate to other countries following reports of poor welfare.
The PUNCH reported last week that no fewer than 266 Nigeria-trained doctors were licensed for medical practice in the United Kingdom between June and July 2022.
As of now, Nigeria currently has the third highest number of foreign-trained doctors in the UK after India and Pakistan.
SOURCE: The PUNCH
