The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced a five-day warning strike due to the federal government’s failure to meet their demands.

The strike is scheduled to begin on May 17 at 8 am and end on May 22 at 8 am. The decision was made after a six-and-a-half-hour extraordinary National Executive Council meeting held virtually on Monday.

NARD had given the federal government a two-week ultimatum to meet their demands, which ended on May 13.

The doctors are demanding a 200% increase in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and the immediate withdrawal of the bill that requires medical and dental graduates to render five-year compulsory services in Nigeria before obtaining full licenses.

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They are also demanding the implementation of CONMESS, domestication of the Medical Residency Training Act, and review of hazard allowances by all state governments and private tertiary health institutions where any form of residency training is conducted.

Dr. Emeka Orji, the President of NARD, stated that the strike is total and will involve both emergency and clinical operations in hospitals. Despite the ultimatum given to the government, they did not negotiate with the doctors regarding their demands.