Doctors And FG Don Clash Over ₦48bn Arrears As Strike Shut Down Hospitals Nationwide

Di wahala between Federal Government and National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) don worsen as both sides dey drag over di real money wey government release to settle salary arrears. FG talk say dem don release ₦11.9 billion to ease di ongoing strike, but NARD say di figure no reach wetin dem owe, insisting say di total debt na ₦48 billion, not ₦41 billion as government claim. NARD President, Dr. Mohammad Usman Suleiman, yarn say even though Ministry of Finance don begin pay under CONMESS and CONHESS, resident doctors never see better share from di money. E explain say di allowances wey dem pay accoutrement and COVID-19 hazard balance na just two out of di association’s 19 demands. Across di country, hospitals don scatter as di strike don paralyse work for over 91 medical centres. For UCH Ibadan, only consultants dey attend to patients, while for Lagos, Cross River, and Delta, wards don empty as patients dey stranded. Some people like Mrs Nkoyo Etim wey get belle talk say she fit go meet traditional birth attendants because private hospital money too high.

Dr. Suleiman talk say di strike no be fight against government but a struggle for di soul of healthcare for Nigeria, and e go continue until all dia demands don meet. For Abuja, National Hospital and FMC Jabi don shut down as patients dey suffer. Nurses dey discharge people, even accident victims and emergency cases, because no doctor dey around. One nurse talk say di situation don bad wella and beg FG make dem act fast. For Radiology Unit and Emergency Ward, patients dey turn back as staff refuse to attend to dem. One police officer wey get gunshot injury cry say him leg dey swell and he never fit sleep because no doctor dey to operate. As di strike continue, many Nigerians dey stranded, hospitals dey empty, and healthcare don nearly collapse. Doctors dey insist say government must act sharp sharp to restore hope for di health sector and ease di pain of di people.