Resident Doctors Threaten Mass Protest, Picketing of Govt Offices Nationwide

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has threatened to embark on a daily peaceful protest and picketing of the Federal Ministry of Health, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, as well as all federal and state tertiary health institutions nationwide from Wednesday, August 9, 2023.

In a letter titled, ‘Notice of Nationwide Mass Protest and Picketing by NARD’ addressed to the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, and copied to the President of the Senate, Speaker, House of Representatives; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment; and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning , the resident doctors stated that the protest has become necessary to press home their demands which have been largely neglected by the Federal Government.

They stated that they were pained that rather than make genuine and concerted efforts to resolve the challenges that led to the industrial action, despite repeated ultimatums, the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Health chose to demonise Nigerian resident doctors, despite their sacrifices and patriotism.

NARD pointed out that the government still has time to genuinely address the issues at stake before Wednesday, August 9, 2023, or leave it with no other option.

The letter read in part: ‘’We have resolved that it is time the whole world hears our side of the story – the decay and corruption in the health sector as well as the neglect the public health institutions have suffered all these years that led to repeated industrial actions.”