Doctors at work. Photo; Archive/Radio Nigeria
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) will on Wednesday commence a five-day warning strike.
In a statement on Tuesday, the President of NARD, Dr. Emeka Orji, said that their action followed the inability of the Federal Government to meet their demands.
The Doctors are demanding an immediate increment in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, CONMESS, to the tune of 20 percent of their current gross salaries and immediate withdrawal of the bill seeking to compel medical and dental graduates to render five-year compulsory services in Nigeria before being granted full licenses practices.
They also want the domestication of the Medical Residency Training Act, and review of hazard allowance by state governments as well as private tertiary health institutions where any form of residency training is done, among others.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige after the FEC on Monday condemned the move, describing it as unnecessary.
He said the government was already engaged with the Nigerian Medical Association, their umbrella body on the issues raised.
Reporting by Fabian Anawo; Editing by Fany Olumoye and Annabel Nwachukwu