Saturday, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) proclaimed its intention to engage in daily peaceful protests and picketing of the Federal Ministry of Health, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, and all federal and state tertiary health institutions nationwide.
The collective action will begin on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., according to a notice issued by NARD following its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting and signed by the organization’s president, Dr. Emeka Orji, and secretary, Dr. Chikezie Kelechi.
Part of the statement reads as follows: “It has become necessary to reiterate our long-standing demands.”
"We are pained that rather than make genuine and concerted efforts to resolve the challenges that led to the industrial action despite repeated ultimatums, our parent ministry and the federal government have instead chosen to demonize Nigerian resident doctors, despite their sacrifices and patriotism.
"We have therefore decided that it is time for the entire world to hear our side of the tale – the decay and corruption in the health sector, as well as the years of neglect public health institutions have endured, which have led to repeated strikes.
“We believe the government has until Wednesday, August 9, 2023, to genuinely address the issues at stake, or leave us with no choice.”