Unpaid salaries: Resident Doctors to shut down hospitals in Nigeria

The National Association of Resident Doctors has directed its members whose salaries are still pending to take all necessary actions including the withdrawal of services until their salaries and other entitlement are paid.

Addressing a news conference at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, the National President of the Union, Dr. Adamu Akira, said that government had refused to honour agreement reached with the union.

He explained that during the just concluded National Executive Council meeting held between July 23 and 30 in Keffi, agreements were reached and the government promised to meet their demands.

“During that meeting, deliberations were made and agreement reached but unfortunately, that promise has not been kept, and our members’ salaries have still not been paid.

“In the line of the current situation, the National leadership of the Union resolved to shut down all affected hospitals until the issues are properly resolved,” he said.

Although he commended the commitment of the Buhari administration in handling issues with a sense of maturity, he noted that government should make meeting their demands one of their major priorities.

“It is disheartening to note that unduly sacked resident doctors are yet to be recalled as agreed, Health Sector Intervention Fund yet to be accessed and many doctors are still being subjected to various forms of victimization.

“Therefore, having respected government’s excuses during our meetings, I see no reason for government not respecting our demands,” he argued.

Meanwhile, there are new demands from the resident doctors.

The association says government needs to speed up efforts in paying staff salaries, resolve the residency training problems, and the residency training committee must fast track effort in presenting their report to government for appropriate actions.