Doctors at Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital in Nigeria’s Kaduna State have called off a six-day warning strike after reaching a temporary agreement with government officials to address their concerns over staffing and salaries.
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) announced the suspension after an emergency congress and subsequent meetings mediated by the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and the Kaduna State Government.
Dr Josiah Yakubu, president of the hospital’s NARD chapter, stated that the strike was initially triggered by what the doctors described as unfair treatment, including termination and warning letters issued to several members by hospital management.
“Thankfully, the state government has now shown genuine intent to rectify the situation,” Yakubu explained. “The Secretary to the State Government took personal interest in facilitating a dialogue, which marks a sharp departure from earlier hardline actions by hospital authorities.”
The discussions led to the drafting of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), jointly signed by all parties involved, outlining steps to resolve the standoff. One major development was the submission of a detailed proposal for transitioning from the outdated 2014 CONMESS salary structure to the updated 2024 version.
According to Yakubu, the government acknowledged the legitimacy of all demands and requested a two-month period to begin implementing solutions, particularly regarding doctor recruitment and salary improvements.
Doctors will officially resume duty on Tuesday, with operations at Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital expected to return to normal.
Medical associations, including the NMA and NARD, have committed to overseeing the implementation of the agreement and ensuring the government honours its commitments.
This development is seen as a significant step towards restoring industrial harmony in Kaduna’s healthcare system, with patients and medical staff alike hopeful for lasting improvements.
