The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has commenced a seven-day warning strike over the abduction of their colleague, Ganiyat Popoola, who has been held captive for eight months.
The President of NARD, Dele Abdullahi, announced the strike during a virtual emergency meeting of the National Executive Council of the association at midnight on Monday.
Mr Abdullahi said: “The strike is total, and there will be no concessions or emergency care during this period. All centres, both federal and state, should ensure full compliance, even as proper handover of patients to consultants should be done,”
He stated that any centre that fails to comply with the strike direction would face a significant fine and be barred from attending the upcoming NARD annual general meeting.
Members of the association from all over the country had earlier held a protest march in all tertiary hospitals to demand Mrs Popoola’s release.
On 14 August, NARD issued a 26 August ultimatum for the release of the victim.
At a press briefing in Abuja, the association decried the government’s “inaction” over the abduction.
Mr Abdullahi noted that the association notified all security agencies, the federal government, and the Kaduna State Government but has seen no significant action.
“It’s appalling that in a country where we want healthcare providers to stay, one of us has been kidnapped for over seven months and 17 days without any form of relief or directive on how the rescue mission will proceed,” Mr Abdullahi said.
