Resident doctors at Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital in Kaduna have suspended their six-day warning strike following a series of negotiations with government officials and intervention from medical associations.
Dr. Josiah Yakubu, President of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) chapter at the hospital, announced that work would resume on Tuesday with doctors returning to their duties from 8:00 am, while other resident doctors would report by 10:00 am.
Government Intervention and Negotiations
The decision to suspend the strike came after an emergency congress held on Saturday and multiple meetings with key stakeholders, particularly the national and state leadership of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA).
According to Dr. Yakubu, the Secretary to the Kaduna State Government stepped in to arbitrate on behalf of the state government, facilitating discussions that led to the strike's suspension.
"This was unlike our first meeting where unfortunately some of our members were issued with letters of termination of appointment as resident doctors. Some others were given warning letters, with a notice of intention to terminate their appointments," Dr. Yakubu explained.
He clarified that these disciplinary actions were "unilaterally taken by the management of Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital" and not representative of the state government's position.
Agreement and Commitments
The meeting with the medical association, which reportedly lasted about two hours, enabled both parties to address the core issues of concern and outline potential solutions toward resolving the industrial dispute.
Dr. Yakubu stated that the Kaduna State Government had acknowledged the legitimacy of the doctors' concerns and demands, making commitments to address them. The government requested a two-month timeframe to "practically initiate and resolve these concerns of manpower and remuneration of doctors in the state."
A cost implication for transitioning from CONMESS 2014 to CONMESS 2024 has been drafted and submitted to the Secretary to the State Government for presentation to the Governor.
"A Memorandum of Understanding was jointly drafted to this effect, which the SSG, Chairman, NMA Kaduna State, NARD President, President, ARD Kaduna, and President, ARD BDTH co-signed," he added.
The leadership of both the NMA and NARD have committed to closely monitor the implementation process until all demands are satisfactorily addressed.
The resolution aims to ensure that "doctors are not shortchanged and that healthcare service delivery in the state is not compromised," according to Dr. Yakubu.
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