NIGERIA: Kaduna Resident Doctors Suspend Six-Day Warning Strike

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital (BDTH), Kaduna, has officially suspended its six-day warning strike following interventions by key stakeholders in the health sector.

Dr. Josiah Yakubu, President of the ARD chapter at BDTH, made this known on Monday in Kaduna during a media briefing.

According to him, the decision to suspend the strike was reached after an emergency congress held on Saturday, alongside a series of meetings and interventions, particularly by the national and state leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).

He stated that normal medical activities would resume at the hospital on Tuesday, with resident doctors at the hospital scheduled to report for duty by 10:00 a.m., while he and other executives would resume by 8:00 a.m.

Dr. Yakubu explained that, since the strike commenced, the Secretary to the Kaduna State Government (SSG) had stepped in to mediate on behalf of the state government.

This intervention, he noted, marked a shift from the earlier posture of the hospital management, which had taken punitive steps against some of the striking doctors.

“Unlike our first meeting, where unfortunately some of our members were issued with letters of termination of appointment as resident doctors, and others were given warning letters, this latest approach showed a willingness to dialogue,” Yakubu said.

He further revealed that the disciplinary actions appeared to have been carried out unilaterally by the management of Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, without full alignment with state government leadership.

During the reconciliation meeting facilitated by the SSG and the leadership of the NMA, parties were able to candidly address the concerns raised by the doctors, which primarily revolved around manpower shortages and remuneration.

“The meeting, which lasted for about two hours, helped both parties appreciate the issues at stake and identify actionable solutions that would ensure doctors are not shortchanged and that healthcare service delivery is not compromised in Kaduna State,” Yakubu added.

According to him, the state government has acknowledged the validity of the doctors’ grievances and committed to resolving them.

The SSG requested a two-month window to practically implement solutions, including manpower improvements and transitioning doctors’ salaries from the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) 2014 to CONMESS 2024.

Yakubu also disclosed that a cost implication document for the salary transition had been prepared and submitted to the SSG for onward presentation to Governor Uba Sani.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was jointly signed by key stakeholders to formalize the resolutions reached.

Signatories included the SSG, the Chairman of NMA Kaduna State, the National President of NARD, the President of ARD Kaduna, and the President of ARD BDTH.

“The meeting concluded with an understanding that these developments would be communicated to the congresses of ARD Kaduna and ARD BDTH for evaluation,” Yakubu stated.

He assured the public that both the NMA and NARD leadership had pledged to closely monitor the implementation process until all demands are satisfactorily addressed.

The suspension of the strike is expected to ease pressure on Kaduna’s public healthcare system, which had been severely strained during the six-day industrial action.