Nigerian doctors call off 2-month strike despite pay arrears

LAGOS, Nigeria – Doctors in Nigeria’s government hospitals have suspended a two-month strike for payment of salaries owed to many and improved working conditions.

The resident doctors, the mainstay of health care at government hospitals throughout the West African country, said they will resume work Wednesday after they “achieved some positive results” in talks with the government, Dr. Dare Ishaya, president of the National Association of Resident Doctors, told The Associated Press Monday.

Although members owed salary arrears are beginning to get paid, some key demands that led to the strike have still not been addressed, said Ishaya. The outstanding demands include salary shortfalls and arrears, some owed for more than a year, failure to increase the 5,000 naira ($12) monthly health hazard allowance last reviewed in 1991, and failure of some states to implement the monthly national minimum wage of 30,000 naira ($73) for the resident doctors.

However, even with their grievances not fully addressed, the doctors have decided to return to work because, “the masses are bearing the brunt” of the strike amid Nigeria’s battle with the third wave of the pandemic, Ishaya said. “About 20 of our colleagues died as a result of the pandemic,” he added.