The National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (NARD) has said that it will begin a nationwide strike on Thursday, June 9.

National President of the body, Muhammad Askira, revealed this to journalists in Kano.

Askira said the decision was taken at the ordinary general meeting of the National Executive Council of the association held between May 30 and June 5 in Jos.

He said that “16 out of 58 federal tertiary institutions or centres were exempted from the initial centre based strike for the commitment of the Chief Medical Director of the hospitals to implement the Federal Government’s directives.”

Askira said if by midnight of Sunday, June 19, their demands were not met, all the members of the association, including those exempted, would join the indefinite nationwide strike.

He said the association found it necessary to take the decision following the inability of the government to meet its demands.

“Due to the failure of the government to address the demands of NARD, it has declared a total and indefinite strike. NARD has to take this painful decision in order to highlight the plight of our hardworking members who have had to endure a long period of deprivation and disenfranchisement,” he said.

Askira said the association would continue to be open to discussion and ready to partner government to ensure effective health care service delivery to Nigerians.

Last month, the resident doctors had embarked on a five day warning strike accusing the government of failing to meet their demands.

The association had urged its members across public hospitals in the country to suspend services from 8am, May 10 till May 16 to press home its demands.

The doctors say the Nigerian government is yet to pay some of the Resident Doctors their salaries. (tv360Nigeria.com)

•Photo shows protesting doctors.