The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has urged the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, and all 36 state governors to domesticate the Medical Training Residency Act and ensure the payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) to all resident doctors working in their respective states.
This was stated in a communique issued at the end of the 44th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Scientific Conference of the Association, held from September 23 to 28, co-hosted by the Association of Resident Doctors of the Federal Medical Center and Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta.
In the communique signed by its President, Dr. Osundara Tope, General Secretary Dr. Odunbaku Oluwasola, and Public and Social Secretary Dr. Amobi Omoha, the AGM noted with dismay the non-payment of the 2024 MRTF to some of its members, as well as the outstanding 2023 MRTF.
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It called on the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria to expedite the payment of the outstanding MRTF and adhere to all agreements reached during a stakeholders’ meeting organized by the Federal Ministry of Health.
While commending Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State for domesticating the Medical Residency Training Act, the AGM also expressed concerns over the federal government’s failure to include the accoutrement allowance in salaries as approved, as well as the non-payment of accoutrement allowance arrears by some Chief Medical Directors.
The AGM expressed dismay at the government’s failure to pay the arrears of the upwardly revised CONMESS and other outstanding salary arrears.
It resolved that the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife, and the CMD of Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja must cease their high-handedness toward resident doctors and other staff.
The AGM called for continued engagement with the Ministry of Health to ensure prompt waivers for tertiary health institutions to mitigate the ongoing brain drain.
Additionally, it extended sympathy and prayers to the flood disaster victims in Borno State and adjoining states.
NARD called on the government and all well-meaning Nigerians to support affected communities in their reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts.
