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NARD insists on strike, says over 2,000 doctors owed
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The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors reiterated its resolve on Wednesday to embark on a nationwide strike on September 10 if the Federal Government and its relevant agencies fail to meet its demands.
The President of NARD, Dr. Tope Osundara, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with our correspondent.
He said the association met with the Federal Government on Monday, but the discussions yielded no positive outcome.
Earlier this week, NARD issued a 10-day ultimatum to the relevant government agencies, warning that its members would commence strike action if their demands were not addressed.
The doctors condemned the failure of the Federal Government to fulfil its promises, noting with that a substantial number of resident doctors remain unpaid for their 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund, and the refusal to pay the outstanding five months’ arrears arising from the 25 per cent/35 per cent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure review, other longstanding salary arrears; and the arrears of the 2024 Accoutrement Allowance, among others.
About three weeks ago, the Federal Government inaugurated the Committee on Collective Bargaining for the health sector, signaling the commencement of negotiations with major unions and associations, in line with Articles 1 and 2 of the guidelines on collective bargaining agreement machinery.
The negotiations are expected to cover remuneration, working conditions, professional development, and the welfare of health workers.
The committee was set up after both the Nigerian Medical Association and NARD issued a strike ultimatum in July, and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives suspended its nationwide warning strike.
Osundara, however, noted that despite the committee’s inauguration, there had been no meaningful response to the doctors’ demands.
The NARD President noted, “The 10-day ultimatum is still counting. Unfortunately, there has not been a positive response from the government. There is no positive response at all. So, as it stands, my people are angry, and I only hope that there won’t be a breakdown in our healthcare system. After the 10 days of the ultimatum, we cannot guarantee industrial harmony, as we’ve extended a hand of friendship and tried to reason with them.
“So, what it means is that, if my people cannot register for exams, the government has automatically extended their residency training. So, they will automatically lose one year, and it is also not even good for the government because if you lose one year, the government will still have to fund this training the following year, and pay for this year again. So, it is more or less like the government is the one that is losing. Because if you pay the money on time, people can register for the exams, they can go about their businesses, and it will also improve academic excellence.
“As of now, there are other remuneration matters that the government has not attended to. They have not done anything aside from the two-month arrears, out of the seven months, that were paid, and they didn’t pay the accurate amount. So, it’s up to them to find a solution to all of these things.”
He further explained that over 2,000 doctors are yet to receive the Medical Residency Training Fund, with the registration window set to close on Friday, September 5.
“Over 2,000 doctors across every region are yet to receive the MRFT. The government paid some people, and didn’t pay others. Those people who were not paid are really agitated, and the deadline is this Friday.
“Many doctors at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, University of Port-Harcourt Teaching Hospital, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, and many more are yet to receive the training fund,” he lamented.
Meanwhile, the Association of Resident Doctors at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, has been on strike since July 29.
Similarly, ARD members in Kaduna State began an indefinite strike on September 1 to press home their demands.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Suspected bandits have kidnapped retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, former Director of Defence Information, and his wife on Matazu Road in Katsina State.
Security sources told PRNigeria that the couple was ambushed on Saturday morning, May 30, 2026, while travelling in a red Peugeot 504 saloon car.
The gunmen intercepted the vehicle and whisked the retired officer and his wife to an unknown location.
The driver escaped with gunshot wounds and is receiving treatment at a nearby hospital, a security source said.
The former DDI and his wife were waylaid by armed men on the route. The driver escaped with gunshot injuries and is receiving medical attention,” the source stated.
Security forces have launched search-and-rescue operations and deployed intelligence assets to track the abductors, according to the source. Official confirmation from the military was still pending at press time.
—Rising concern in Katsina—
The abduction comes amid persistent insecurity in parts of Katsina despite ongoing military operations against bandit groups in the North-West.
In recent years, several serving and retired security personnel have been targeted on highways linking Katsina to neighbouring states. PRNigeria reports that criminal groups now see high-profile individuals, including retired military officers, as lucrative targets.
Maj-Gen Abubakar served as Director of Defence Information and was one of the Nigerian military’s most visible spokespersons during the counterinsurgency campaign against Boko Haram.
The incident is expected to renew calls for stronger security along major highways and rural communities in Katsina, where residents continue to face kidnapping and banditry.
Credit :PRNigeria
Abia State Police Command has nabbed two suspects for conspiracy, attempted child theft and possession of hard drugs.
The Command which made this known on Saturday, named the suspects as Nzubechi Chinagorom and Chinonso Chibundu, indigenes of Olokoro, Umuahia South LGA of the Abia State.
In a statement signed by DSP Maureen Chinaka, the Police Public Relations Officer, the Command said its officers apprehended the suspects through actionable intelligence, in collaboration with Olokoro vigilante personnel.
She stated that the suspects went to the residence of one Miss Amarachi Chinyereugo and attempted to forcibly take away her two-week-old baby girl.
DSP Chinaka said that the Nzubechi Chinagorom allegedly stabbed the nursing mother with a kitchen knife during a struggle, causing the baby to fall and hit her head on ground.
The police spokesperson said that the two suspects fled from the scene and ran into a nearby bush on realizing that the nursing mother, Miss Amarachi Chinyereugo cried out for help.
She added that the suspects were later apprehended at a bus stop
where they had reportedly gone to take hard drugs.
“The mother and child were immediately rushed to the hospital, where they received treatment and have since recovered.
“The suspects were apprehended, exhibits were recovered and investigation has been conducted at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID). Suspects will be charged to court on 2/06/2026,” Chinaka said.
Ex-Minister of Labour and Productivity, SellJoel Ikenya, has been declared winner of the governorship primaries conducted by the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Taraba State.
Mr Felix Hyat, the chairman of the election committee, who announced the results in Jalingo on Saturday, said Ikenya scored 34,173, to defeat Mr Dinshiya Usman, who polled 4,853.
Hyat, who described the exercise as free, fair and transparent, commended the state working committee of the party for the peaceful conduct.
Ikenya, in his acceptance speech, pledged to revive Taraba to her days of glory if elected governor in 2027.
“I will transform Taraba; I will change the state from salary base, to an industrialised state.
“My desire is to also revive the state infrastructure and attract more investors to boost the economy,” he said.
The governorship candidate, however, denied the allegations of factional PDP in Taraba.
“There is no factional PDP in Taraba; I don’t know where the other people are coming from.
“PDP in Taraba is one, and we do not have any faction in the state. We are working as one united family to reclaim our mandate from Gov. Agbu Kefas of the All Progressives Congress (APC),” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that, the Nyesom Wike led faction of the party had recently declared senator Emmanuel Bwacha as its governorship candidate in Taraba.
NAN
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