The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, (NARD) says it’s demand for a 200% pay rise for it’s members was not outrageous and can be met by the Federal Government.
NARD had threatened to embark on strike, if the government failed to meet its demands within two weeks.
The association also demanded a 200 per cent upward review of the consolidated medical salary structure, CONMESS, and payment of the salary arrears to resident doctors.
This was a reaction to the claim by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, that government had no resources to meet what he described as outrageous demand by the resident doctors, adding that resident doctors often demonstrate an ”entitlement syndrome.”
Reacting, NARD president, Innocent Orji, on a television programme on Tuesday, said doctors and nurses were not part of the last minimum wage increase.
He said any increment to their pay should be based on the inflation rate from 2009 till date.
“When people hear that we are demanding 200 per cent upward review, it may sound outrageous but we didn’t just come up with that figure.
”I’ll give an instance, the exchange rate then was N152/$1. We know what it is today. The fuel price then was N65/litre. We know the amount today and there is even an imminent increment.”
