The National Association of Resident Doctors has commenced a two-week national strike to protest non-payment of their allowances and other severance packages.

President of the Association, Dr Aliyu Sokomba made the announcement while addressing journalists on the outcome of their National Executive meeting. 

Dr Sokomba said the Association cannot continue to wait on government excuses after several promises to pay COVID-19 induced hazard allowance for health workers - hence the decision to embark upon the industrial action. 

He, however, exempted NARD members who are attending to COVID-19 patients at designated isolation centres but threatened to co-opt into industrial action if after two weeks government refuses to pay them.   

The NARD President said the exemption of the front line worker was as a result and in recognition of the intervention of the honourable speaker, Demi Gbajabiamila, the chairman, house of the committee on health services, Dr Tanko Sununu and other stakeholders as well as demonstration of their goodwill to Nigerians.

He also frowned at the insincerity of government in the payment of the their members'  outstanding salary shortfalls of 2014,2015, 2016, respectively under the guise of the national industrial court decision.

So far,  eight hundred doctors have been exposed to COVID-19 pandemic while two hundred doctors have tested positive,  ten died from complications of the Coronavirus pandemic.