If the Federal Government does not meet its demands, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has threatened a nationwide strike.

The association made this known in a letter signed by its president, Dr Emeka Orji, to the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, stating that if the issues were not resolved before its January 24 to 28 National Executive Council meeting, the strike would begin.

Six months ago, NARD issued an ultimatum to the Federal Government over lingering unresolved issues affecting its members, including irregularities in the new circular on an upward review of the Medical Residency Training Fund, outstanding payment of the arrears of the new hazard allowance, non-payment of the skipping arrears for 2014, 2015, and 2016, and non-payment of the consequential adjustment of the minimum wage to some of its members.

Salary arrears of its members in state tertiary health institutions in Abia, Imo, Ondo, Ekiti, and Gombe states, as well as non-domestication of the Medical Residency Training Act in most states across the federation, are among the issues.

"Sir, our January 2023 National Executive Council meeting has been scheduled for January 24th to 28th, 2023, and we can confirm very clearly feelers that if these issues are not resolved before that meeting, our members will likely give us a mandate to immediately kick-start processes that will lead to a nationwide industrial disharmony in the health sector," the letter read in part.

"Sir, we know how critical this period is and the chaos that will ensue if the government does not take steps to prevent this from happening, and so we humbly implore you to use your good office to resolve these issues before our January NEC meeting. Sir, we have faith in your fatherly disposition and hope that you will come to our aid and save this nation from impending industrial disarray."

The letter was also copied to the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Secretary to the Government of Federation, Ministers of Labour and Finance, and the Chairman of the Nigerian Governor's Forum, among others.

The association praised the government's efforts through its ministries, departments, and agencies in resolving some of the issues raised, but said many of them remained largely unaddressed, leading to nationwide agitation among its members.