BREAKING: Resident Doctors Resume Duties At UCH After Month-Long Strike

BREAKING: Resident Doctors Resume Duties At UCH After Month-Long Strike

Resident doctors at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, have resumed work after a nationwide strike that lasted one month.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the industrial action, which began on November 1, followed a directive from the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD). The strike was called after the Federal Government failed to meet the association’s demands.

The doctors had pressed for a 200 per cent increase in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, full implementation of new allowances proposed since July 2022, immediate recruitment of more clinical personnel, and the removal of bureaucratic bottlenecks delaying the replacement of doctors, among other requests.

The President of UCH NARD, Dr. Gboyega Ajibola, said the NARD National Executive Council met on November 29 to review the government’s response. He noted that “most of the immediate and short-term demands have now been met.”

Ajibola confirmed that a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the government, clearly stating the agreed demands and timelines for implementation.

“Based on the satisfactory terms of the MoU, the NARD NEC decided to suspend the industrial action and allow the government four weeks to execute the agreed points,” he said.

He explained that, in line with NARD practice, all centres held a congress on December 1 to brief members. After the briefing, centre presidents directed resident doctors nationwide to return to duty.

Ajibola said all resident doctors at UCH fully resumed work on Monday.