The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, on Saturday, issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Federal Government to pay its members being owed Medical Residency Training Fund and salary arrears.

 The association also demanded that the government withdraw the lawsuit filed against doctors before the National Industrial Court in the interest of peace.

The NARD made these demands in a communiqué issued at the end of its 41st Annual General Meeting held in Bauchi State on Saturday.

In the communiqué, jointly signed by NARD’s  President, Dr Okhuaihesuyi Uyilawa, and Secretary General, Jerry Isogun, the resident doctors decried the Federal Government’s continued failure to accede to their demands.

In the communiqué, they restated their resolve to continue with the indefinite strike, which began on August 2, 2021 “until our minimum demands are met.”

“The AGM, in particular, demanded that the Federal Government should ensure the following urgently for the purpose of restoring normalcy to the health sector:

“Payment of the Medical Residency Training within 72 hours since the money meant for it is available and verification of the list for payment has been completed.

“Payment of the arrears of salaries of our members on GIFMIS platform within 72 hours while the migration process continues.

“Withdrawal of the case against us in court in the interest of peace and payment of our withheld August and September salaries,” the resident doctors said in the communiqué.

But, the Minister of State for Health, Olorunmimbe Mamora, in an interview with ugamatv said that the Federal Government would re-invite NARD to the negotiation table.

Mamora said, “The court has given a ruling and they (resident doctors) still insist on not going back to work. That is not a fair situation. Though they have indicated that they want to appeal which is not wrong, but at what cost?

Read Also Reps’ minority caucus faults Buhari’s claims at UN General Assembly

“Engagement is still on and we will still invite them. All we can do is to continue appealing that a strike during this period of a global pandemic and outbreaks of cholera and other diseases is not right.”

However, pro-labour lawyers, under the aegis of International Lawyers Assisting Workers, have said they are not comfortable with the order of the National Industrial Court directing the striking resident doctors to go back to work while the Federal Government had not met their demands for salary arrears payment and improved welfare.

The court had on September 17, ordered the doctors to suspend the indefinite strike and go to dialogue table with government in the interest of Nigerians.