The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has announced that its members will return to work starting Monday, September 2, 2024, following a seven-day nationwide warning strike.
According to The PUNCH, the strike was initiated in response to the ongoing abduction of their colleague, Dr. Ganiyat Popoola.
Dr. Popoola, a registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre in Kaduna, was kidnapped along with her husband and nephew on December 27, 2023.
While her husband was released in March, Dr. Popoola and her nephew remain in captivity.
During the strike, NARD called for urgent action to secure their release.
The Federal Government, responding to the strike, indicated on Thursday that it might implement the ‘no work, no pay’ policy for the protesting doctors.
However, NARD remained resolute in their demands despite the threat.
NARD President, Dr. Dele Abdullahi, confirmed the suspension of the strike, stating, “We are suspending the strike now. We will be meeting to review the progress the government has made in the next three weeks. We are resuming on Monday, September 2, 2024, at 8 am. The engagement of the government has been a little bit better. But, we are hopeful that they will sustain this current line of action.”
