Resident doctors at Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital in Kaduna have decided to return to work on Tuesday after halting services for six days due to unresolved concerns.
The warning strike, which began last week, was called off following a series of meetings involving leaders of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), and the Kaduna State Government.
The decision to suspend the strike was made after an emergency congress meeting on Saturday.
The discussions, which involved the national and state chapters of the NMA, helped the doctors and government representatives reach a common ground.
During the strike, the doctors raised complaints about the way some of their colleagues were treated. Some had received termination letters, while others were given warnings.
The doctors said these actions were taken by the hospital’s management without broader consultation.
The intervention of the Secretary to the State Government helped to open up new discussions, creating room for a peaceful resolution.
A recent meeting between the NMA and the State Government, held after the secretary stepped in, lasted about two hours.
It allowed both sides to understand the main issues better and look into practical steps to resolve them. The doctors said their demands centered around fair treatment, improved conditions, and proper pay.
The state government agreed to look into all the complaints and promised to act within two months. One key issue raised was the need to move from the outdated 2014 salary structure to a more recent 2024 version.
A cost breakdown for this transition has already been submitted to the State Secretary for further action.
To formalize the agreement, a joint document was signed by representatives of the NMA, NARD, and the state government.
The document outlines what each side is expected to do moving forward. The leadership of the doctors’ unions also promised to monitor the situation to make sure all promises are kept.
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