By John Moses
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) at Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital in Kaduna has suspended its six-day warning strike after key interventions from medical authorities and government representatives.
Dr Josiah Yakubu, president of the hospital’s NARD chapter, confirmed the suspension in an interview on Monday, stating that doctors will return to work on Tuesday, with senior consultants resuming by 8:00 a.m. and resident doctors by 10:00 a.m.
The decision followed an emergency congress held on Saturday, during which members deliberated on the outcome of high-level meetings involving the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), both at state and national levels, as well as the Kaduna State Government.
“We observed a marked shift in the state government’s approach,” Dr Yakubu said. “Unlike earlier when some of our members received termination and warning letters, this time there was a genuine willingness to resolve the issues.”
Yakubu noted that the Secretary to the State Government had stepped in as a mediator, leading to a series of follow-up engagements. These meetings, according to him, provided a platform to better understand the doctors’ grievances and explore viable solutions.
At the core of the doctors’ demands are improvements in manpower and fair remuneration, particularly the transition from the 2014 to the 2024 Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS). A cost implication report has been submitted to the state government for consideration.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was co-signed by key parties, including the Secretary to the State Government, NMA Kaduna chairman, and representatives of both state and hospital-level NARD leaderships.
Dr Yakubu added that the Kaduna government has requested two months to initiate and address the concerns raised, while medical associations have pledged to monitor progress closely.
The strike, which began as a response to administrative decisions perceived as unilateral by hospital management, had affected healthcare services in the region. The resumption of services is expected to bring relief to patients and restore normalcy to the hospital.
