Nigeria: Doctors go on strike, shuttering hospitals

By Rafiu Ajakaye

LAGOS, Nigeria (AA) - Hospitals closed their doors across Nigeria on Monday as doctors declared an “indefinite strike” over the government's alleged failure to honor earlier agreements on pay arrears, promotion, and other issues.

“The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), rising from her extraordinary national executive council meeting, rejected the memorandum of terms of settlement from government on the items of her demand for strike action, and resolved to proceed on the proposed national total and indefinite strike with effect from Monday Sept. 4, 2017,” according to a statement issued on Monday.

The demands of the doctors included payment of salary arrears, upgrade of members of their body who have met promotion criteria, alleged poor working conditions, and increased funding for the health sector.

The doctors on July 30 issued a 21-day ultimatum for the government to meet its demands or honor earlier agreements such as ones on workers’ pay and working conditions. Some of the agreements date as far back as former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan.

Labor Minister Chris Ngige has yet to respond to request for comments on the development.

The strike will ratchet up pressure on President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, which already faces criticism over an ongoing strike by varsity lecturers across Nigeria over unfulfilled agreements.