Resident doctors in Abuja under the aegis of The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Abuja chapter, have begun an indefinite strike over non-payment of salaries in the midst of growing threat from the coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria and globally.
The association announced their decision about an hour after the third case of Covid19 was confirmed in Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos.
According to them, they have deliberated extensively on the health threat posed by the coronavirus scare, their work conditions, and patient care before arriving at the “difficult decision.”
In a statement signed by its president, Roland Aigbovo, the association said the mass action followed the failure of the FCT administration to pay them their basic salaries for more than two months.
Mr Aigbovo said their members have been thrown into financial distress due to the nonpayment of their salaries and despite repeated warnings and ultimatum, nothing has been done by authorities.
He said there has been salary irregularities and shortfalls since the migration to the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System by the FCTA.
The Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, had mandated the Rep. Tanko Sununu-led Committee on Health Services to intervene and ensure that the matters are resolved.
He pleaded with the health workers to consider the effect of the industrial action on the larger society, especially at this period of global health challenges.
At the meeting with the Committee were members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) as well as Nurses and Midwives Association, while the Director, Human Resources, FCT, Muhammad Bashir, who led other management staff to the meeting, stood in for the Permanent Secretary.
According to the NARD President, FCT Chapter, Roland Aigbovo and the Chairman, MDCAN, Abuja Chapter, Igbinovia Imotiyan, the striking workers’ grievances bordered on the failure of the FCT management to pay arrears of some allowances due to some of their members.
It also bordered on non-payment of salary to some members employed since October 2019, irregular and incomplete salary payment of members since the management of FCT migrated to the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) in January 2020, as well as promotion arrears issues.
According to the groups, congresses would be conveyed within 48 hours and would strive to convince their members to call off the strike based on the intervention of the House and the assurances by the FCT management.
“When I heard of the strike, I knew it was going to be problematic for us in the FCT. As doctors, I think you should be able to take a lot more pain, your threshold should be higher, the strike should be the last option you want to consider,” he said.
