Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), who had threatened to go on strike if the government didn't fulfill their demands, revealed they are yet to receive any counter-offers.

President of NARD Dr. Emeka Orji told the Punch on Wednesday that the "ultimatum is running" and they are hoping that the government will "step in" before the end of this week.

NARD demands include an immediate increment in salaries by 200% and withdrawal of the bill that requires doctors to serve within Nigeria for five-year before getting a full license to practice.

The doctors had given the federal government a two-week ultimatum on April 29 to fulfill all their demands.

"This fight is for Nigerians, and that is why we are not looking back," Orji told the Punch. "We have talked a lot since last year, but unfortunately, it is making us believe that the Nigerian government will not listen until you get to the level of escalations that will end up in disharmony, and that is where we are now."

He claimed that the government didn't seem interested in "negotiating on how to resolve the issues," but only on threatening them on national television.

"The threats may lead this country to another round of nationwide industrial crisis in the health sector," Orji added.

He further shared that a meeting will be held to update the members of NARD about the demands, and how the government has responded to them. Orji noted that if the government's response was inadequate, then they can't guarantee harmony. Orji, however, did not specify when the meeting will be held.

"The meeting will focus on updating the members of our demands, if the government has responded and if their response is inadequate, then we cannot guarantee industrial harmony, but all options are on the table," Orji concluded. "If during that briefing, our members feel that nothing has been achieved, anything can happen."

The NARD president's response came after Federal Minister of Labor and Employment of Nigeria, Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige, called their demands "absurd" and said they have a "sense of entitlement."

The minister claimed on Monday that the government was giving NARD everything they wanted, including their Medical Resident Training Fund and even when they were training, they were being paid full salaries and allowances.

Ngige also said that these doctors always have an option to leave the country, adding "it is left for the education ministry and the health ministry to fashion out what they can do."

Dr. Chikezie Kelechi, who serves as the secretary-general of NARD, responded to the minister's claims on the same day, saying the government was not willing to pay the organization, adding that "the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure was approved in 2009 but did not take effect until 2014 and it was meant to be reviewed in five years but it started implementation in the next five years."

"We are in 2023, the salary structure has not been reviewed despite the inflation," he concluded.

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