By Victoria Ojeme

ABUJA— National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria, NARD, has threatened to resume its suspended industrial action by 1st September 2010, if the Federal Government fails to pay the five months arrears of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, CONMESS.

A statement by its president, Dr, John Aremu and the General Secretary Dr, Ali Bab respectively, said “as at today, government has not done anything on the payment of the arrears, despite the suspension of the industrial action because of the appeal and guarantee from the Vice President, Senate President and undertaking from the Minister of Health and also royal fathers, including the Sultan of Sokoto.”

The National Executive Committee, NEC has resolved that “the Federal Government should pay the five months arrears on or before 31st August,2010.

“The  State Governments should implement CONMESS or initiate satisfactory dialogue with our members on or before 31st August, 2010.

“Failure of the above, NARD will be forced to resume the suspended industrial action by 1st September 2010.

“NEC also condemns the chief executives of institutions that meted punitive action against our members and urges them as a matter of urgency to withdraw such action to avert avoidable industrial disharmony.”