Resident Doctors Suspend Warning Strike, Resume Work
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced the suspension of its seven-day nationwide warning strike, directing members to return to work starting Monday, September 2, 2024. This strike was initiated to demand the rescue of Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, who was abducted eight months ago.
NARD President Dr. Dele Abdullahi informed Punch on Sunday that the decision to suspend the strike follows a slight improvement in government engagement. “We are suspending the strike now and will review the government’s progress in the next three weeks,” Abdullahi said. “We will resume work on Monday at 8 am. The government’s response has been somewhat better, and we hope they will maintain this momentum.”
The strike, which began last Monday, was aimed at pressuring the government to secure the release of Dr. Popoola, a registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna. She was abducted on December 27, 2023, along with her husband and nephew. While her husband was released in March, Popoola and her nephew remain in captivity.
In response to the strike, the Federal Government had threatened to enforce a ‘no work, no pay’ policy. However, NARD members remained resolute, undeterred by the threat.
