The Nigerian medical sector may be facing another crisis, as the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has requested a salary increase prior to the 29th May transition from President Muhammadu Buhari to the incoming administration.
This was revealed in a communiqué issued at the end of the organisation virtual Emergency Extended National Officers’ Committee (NOC) meeting held last Tuesday.
The meeting was headed by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) President, Dr Emeka Innocent Orji, who on behalf of his members demanded a review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Scheme (CONMESS) and payment of revised 2023 medical residency training fund by the Federal Government before 29th May 2023.
The organisation not only demanded for a raise but included a pay rise of 35 percent, which they stated is needed to help make up for more than a decade of salary cuts in real terms.
The doctors also argued the raise is well deserved as the pandemic backlogs, coupled with staff shortages, are massively increasing workloads, endangering themselves and their patients.
Part of the communiqué read: “The extended NOC is urging the federal government to take immediate action regarding the upward review of the CONMESS salary structure which has not been updated for over ten years. They are also requesting that the implementation of the revised structure be completed before the 29th May hand-over date.
“Additionally, the NOC acknowledges and appreciates the efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria in the near completion of the payment of 2020 MRTF and the reviewed hazard allowance arrears. They further encourage the government to expedite the payment process for any outstanding allowances.
“The NOC has extended their call to the government to prioritize and accelerate the processing and payment of the reviewed MRTF for the year 2023. These funds are crucial in settling debts associated with update courses and examinations of both national and West African postgraduate colleges, events that have already commenced for the year.
“In addition, the NOC strongly urges the Federal Government to honor the agreements reached by stakeholders constituted by the Ministry of Health regarding the implementation of the 2023 MRTF. They empathized that any delay in payment would only lead to another undesired crisis in the health sector”.
