Resident doctors call off nationwide strike

Nigerian doctors in the public service, under the umbrella body the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), have ended their nationwide industrial action with a call on the Federal Government to implement the agreement it reached with the association before July 14.
The doctors also demanded assurances from the government that its members would be victimised for joining the struggle.
The medical practitioners, it would be recalled, had embarked on an industrial action, Monday, to protest the non-payment 10 months salaries of some of its members.
They also demanded an end to inappropriate placement of members in both states and federal tertiary hospitals across the nation, as well as the sacking of members in some hospitals, and under-funding of the residency training programme.
Responding to the action of the doctors, the government, Tuesday ordered management of its various health institutions to declare their positions vacant.
However, on Saturday, Mohammed Askira, president of NARD, announced that the association had ended the strike.
He added that resident doctors would resume duties on June 27, saying that the strike was called off to reduce the suffering of Nigerians who have had no access to medical care since the beginning of the action.