ABUJA, JUNE 22, 2016 – The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has urged the Federal Government to redeem its promises and assurances to meet up the demands of the strike doctors before July 14.Dr Mohammad Askira, President of the association, made the call in an interview with (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.
Askira commended the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, for his intervention to convene a meeting to address the lingering issues.
However, he noted that the meeting convened by the speaker was to reach an agreement on how to meet our demands and ensure services are restored, among others.
Askira also commended Dogara’s doggedness and foresight, adding that he did what a reasonable and responsible government should do in such circumstance.
According to him, the stakeholders are able to make some points bordering on meeting the associations’ demands within a specific period.
“At the end of yesterday’s meeting which lasted for hours we were able to come up with some points and positions that are generally favourable in the interests of our dear nation and the poor masses in the country.
“What is left now is for us as an organised professional body to take the outcome of this interface to our members which they will now look at.
“Weigh it visa-vis where we were, where we are and where we want to go, and the organ of the association will now take the final position.
“We were able to arrive at a position which borders on addressing remuneration injustices and residency training programme.
“On the residency programme, commitments were made on the issue of getting a guiding policy, among others.
“On remuneration and injustice, we have some states members that have spent months without salaries, members in tertiary institutions that have not been paid full salaries for some months and years.
“We discussed about the accrued arrears and implementation of full payment of salaries, among others.
“Fortunately we agreed on all the positive ways to solve these with actionable plans and timeline within which we hope will be sorted out, some in a week, days and some immediately.
“And we are hoping to meet on July 14 to review progress so far after which if people renege on their positions, the next level of the action will be convoked,’’ said the NARD president.
