Striking Doctors Reject 25% Salary Increase Offer By Nigerian Govt

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) turned down the offer of a 25 percent salary increase and N25,000 peculiar allowance by the government.

President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu's led administration approved peculiar allowance for health workers on July 26, when the strike began. However, the peculiar allowance as well as the 25 percent salary hike was rejected over the weekend by the NARD.

The President of NARD, Emeka Orji issued a statement disclosing the reason behind the rejection.

He explained that the National Executive Council (NEC) rejects the increment in the basic salary and accouterment allowance as the association's demand is for "full restoration of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure to its right value as at the time of the approval of the structure in 2009," PremiumTimes reported.

The President of NARD further noted that the strike will continue until reasonable progress is made by the government to ensure that the demands are fulfilled.

NARD represents around 15,000 doctors out of 40,000 doctors in Nigeria. However, the parent medical association, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) is not on strike, which makes the union feel isolated.

NARD's president disclosed that the association is "still engaging" with NMA to get their support during the strike, adding that it has also called members in other states to "engage their state officers committee of the Nigerian Medical Association because we believe that it would be difficult for NARD to do this in isolation."

Considering the doctors' demand, the association has asked the government to make immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) and requested to take tangible steps to "upward review" the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).

The association's president said that the government's allowance for doctors is considered "laughable," in a telephonic interview.

"The N25,000 allowance to doctors is laughable," he told Vanguard. "The ongoing strike continues. We are currently in a meeting. NARD will issue a statement regarding to N25,000.00 allowance."

"The Federal Government has approved the payment of an Accoutrement allowance of twenty-five naira (N25,000.00) per quarter to Medical and Dental Doctors in hospitals, medical centres, and clinics in the Federal Public Service," he said," BusinessPost reported. "The allowance is to be paid from the overhead budget."

Previously, two healthcare unions went on strike after the government failed to suitably alter the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) in May.

The president of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, Dr. Victor Makanjuola, had previously disclosed that Nigeria is able to retain only 30% of its doctors on an annual basis.

There are many healthcare professionals who leave the country, due to this, the United Kingdom announced in March employers in the island nation will not recruit Nigerian doctors or any healthcare professional unless there is a government-to-government agreement.