The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has rejected a 25 per cent basic salary increase offered by the government. The association also rejected the N25,000 peculiar allowance approved for medical and dental doctors in the federal public service.
The Bola Tinubu administration, on Wednesday, approved the rate as peculiar allowance for health workers, few hours after the doctors’ association began its national indefinite strike.
The government conveyed the approval of the allowance to the striking doctors via a letter dated 26 July and signed by the Chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), Ekpo Nta.
The letter reads in part; “The federal government has approved the payment of an Accoutrement allowance of N25,000.00 per quarter to medical and dental doctors in hospitals, medical centres, and clinics in the federal public service. The allowance is to be paid from the overhead budget.”
The President of NARD, Emeka Orji, in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday, said the National Executive Council (NEC) of the association observed the “paltry 25 per cent” increment in the basic salary of doctors as contained in the circular released by NSIWC in the wake of the strike, as well as the accouterment allowance.
Mr Orji said NEC rejects the increase and calls for the fulfillment of the agreement between the doctors and the Nigerian government.
“NEC vehemently rejects the paltry 25 per cent increment in the basic salary of doctors, as well as the accouterment allowance,” adding that the association’s earlier demand is “for full restoration of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure to its right value as at the time of the approval of the structure in 2009,” he said.
He said the strike continues indefinitely “until reasonable progress is made by the government” to address the association’s demands as contained in the ultimatum earlier issued to the federal government.
Credit: premiumtimesng.com
