Kaduna resident doctors threaten strike over conditions of service

Resident doctors employed by the Kaduna State Government have threatened to embark on an industrial action over demands they have made on the state government.

They listed their demands as adequate funding and equipping and staffing of hospitals for a conducive working and living environment for doctors, other health workers, and patients.

Their other demands include immediate payment of house officers salaries and arrears, putting a mechanism in place to prevent future delays in payment of house officers’ salaries, immediate and full implementation of the corrected Consolidated Medical Salary Structure of Nigeria as the only recognized salary structure for doctors nationwide, and placement of medical officers in their appropriate grade level.

The Kaduna State branch of the Association of Resident Doctors had at its last emergency congress meeting which held on September 9, 2017 at Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital unanimously agreed to issue a 21-day ultimatum to the state government to meet its demands or face an industrial action.

Addressing newsmen in Kaduna Tuesday, the President of the Association, Dr. Joseph Natsah Jokshan, said, “We are using this opportunity to intimate the public and also to remind the government of the resolve of doctors in the state. This came into being due to failure of the government, despite adequate engagement, to live up to its end of the bargain. We have commended government’s efforts by recognizing some of the infrastructural projects that it has embarked upon.

In the same light, we have intimated government about our concerns and demands on a broad range of issues.”