. As Resident doctors commence indefinite action
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has given the federal government a seven-day ultimatum to reverse all its anti-poor economic policies or face an indefinite nationwide strike.
The ultimatum comes as the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), yesterday, declared a “total and indefinite strike.”
The strike followed a two-week ultimatum issued to the federal government on July 5, for the implementation of all its demands.
In a statement yesterday evening, NARD listed their demands to include:
- the immediate payment of the 2023 MRTF;
- the immediate release of the circular on one-for-one replacement, and the payment of skipping arrears;
- the upward review of CONMESS in line with full salary restoration to the 2014 value of CONMESS;
- the payment of the arrears of consequential adjustment of minimum (wage) to the omitted doctors;
- the reversal of the downgrading of the membership certificate by MDCN;
- the payment of MRTF, new hazard allowance, skipping and implementation of corrected CONMESS in State Tertiary Health Institutions; and,
- the payment of omitted hazard allowance arrears.
Efforts by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to avert the strike, yielded no result.
The Speaker, on Monday, held a closed-door meeting with the leadership of NARD, during which he promised to meet with President Bola Tinubu to discuss their demands.
He also announced the setup of an ad hoc committee to meet with all the stakeholders and address the matter and appealed to the resident doctors to give the House two weeks to resolve the issues raised.
NLC has directed all its affiliates and state councils to immediately begin mobilization of workers and other Nigerians, including civil society allies, for a long-lasting strike and mass protests if the government failed to meet its demands.
NLC indefinite strike
Although there is no formal statement, Spokesperson, Benson Ukpa, hinted that the NLC will call out Nigerian workers to a total and indefinite nationwide strike if the anti-poor policies were not reviewed before August 2.
It was gathered that the decisions were reached yesterday, at a meeting of the Congress’ Central Working Committee (CWC), held at Abuja Labour House.
The Congress expressed concern over the sudden increase in the price of petrol from N197 to N617/litre. by the NNPC Limited (NNPCL) on July 18, after an initial sharp increase in June.
Accordingly, NLC has directed all its affiliates and state councils to immediately begin mobilization of workers and other Nigerians, including civil society allies, for a long-lasting strike and mass protests if the government failed to meet its demands.
