The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced a seven-day warning strike in response to the abduction of Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, a colleague who has been held captive for nearly eight months.
The strike is set to begin on Monday, August 26, 2024, at 12 a.m., as declared by NARD President, Dr. Dele Abdullahi.
Dr. Abdullahi made the announcement during an Emergency National Executive Council meeting held on Sunday. He stated that the strike, which will last for seven days, is a total warning strike, meaning that all resident doctors will cease work, including emergency care.
“The strike is commencing by midnight today. It’s for seven days, it’s a warning strike, and it’s total,” Dr. Abdullahi said. “During the strike, there will be no concessions, and there will be no emergency care.”
Dr. Popoola, a registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna, was kidnapped on December 27, 2023. She was abducted along with her husband and nephew while traveling in Kaduna State. Although her husband was released in March 2024, Dr. Popoola and her nephew remain in captivity.
The abduction of Dr. Popoola has sparked outrage and concern within the medical community, leading to demands for her immediate release.
NARD has criticized the government’s handling of the situation, calling for swift action to secure the safe return of Dr. Popoola and her nephew.
The decision to embark on a strike was reached after extensive deliberations during the Emergency National Executive Council meeting. Dr. Abdullahi emphasized that the strike is a warning to the government to act promptly to secure the release of Dr. Popoola and to address the growing insecurity that affects healthcare professionals and other citizens across the country.
“The safety and well-being of our members are non-negotiable. We cannot continue to work under these conditions where our lives and those of our families are constantly at risk. This strike is a call to action for the government to fulfill its primary responsibility of protecting its citizens,” Dr. Abdullahi said.
The NARD President also noted that the strike could escalate if the government fails to take the necessary steps to ensure the release of Dr. Popoola and improve security for healthcare workers nationwide.
