NEC’ll reconvene if FG fails to implement agreement -NARD Official

Dr Ofem Ofem, the chapter President, National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), says the association will reconvene if the Federal Government fails to fulfill agreements.

Ofem, stated this in an interview with our correspondent on Thursday in Calabar.

Recall that at its National Executive Council meeting at Jos in January, NARD reviewed its nine minimum demands earlier presented to the government,

The demands included reinstatement of five doctors in Lokoja, payment of professional and specialist allowances, and resolution of certificate downgrading issues among others.

The NARD official said that the association suspended its strike after 29 days following an agreement reached with the Federal Government.

He said that although marginal progress had been recorded in some areas, no major item had been conclusively addressed after 30 days.

“We subsequently granted the government another 30 days, starting from late January to resolve the outstanding issues.

“As we speak, the affected Lokoja doctors have been reinstated, while only one of two expected allowances was partially paid.

‘’We will reconvene after 30 days to discuss the next line of action if the issues are not resolved,” he said.

Ofem said that until all eligible members received full entitlements, the issue of allowances would not be considered resolved.

He further said that committees had been set up to address the issues of certificate downgrading and collective bargaining agreement.

The official decried the challenges in the healthcare sector, saying that
Nigerian doctors were among the least paid in West Africa.

He urged the government to urgently strengthen public healthcare services following the impact of a weak health system on public heath.