Follow Us on Google
From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Resident doctors at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi, have suspended their strike action following negotiations with the Benue State Government, bringing a temporary relief to patients who have borne the brunt of months-long industrial action.
The strike, which started on December 1, 2025, was called off on the strength of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) reached between the Association of Resident Doctors, BSUTH (ARD BSUTH) and the state government after talks involving the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Paul Ogwuche, the Chairman of the BSUTH Board and leaders of the association.
In a statement jointly signed by the President and General Secretary of ARD BSUTH, Dr Kawen Pededoo and Dr Msonter Anzaa, respectively, the doctors said issues leading to the strike action included unresolved welfare issues, chief among them is the non-payment of 18 months’ arrears arising from the 2023 review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Scale (CONMESS). They noted that although the revised CONMESS took effect nationally from June 2023, doctors at BSUTH only began receiving it in December 2024, leaving significant arrears unpaid.
The association also raised concerns over pension deductions, noting that while eight percent of doctors’ salaries were deducted monthly under the contributory pension scheme, the Benue State Government’s counterpart contribution of 10 percent had not been forthcoming.
According to them, even the deductions made from doctors’ salaries had largely not been remitted to their pension fund administrators, with backlogs stretching beyond two years for some members.
The doctors, who also lamented excessive tax deductions, disclosed that PAYE taxes deducted in November and December 2025 were almost double the previous amounts, a development the doctors described as inconsistent when compared with deductions from other medical doctors employed by the Benue State Government. The association said the situation had effectively wiped out modest gains achieved through previous welfare struggles.
The doctors had also requested the renovation of doctors’ quarters and establishment of a security post, saying over the years, the structures at the doctors’ quarters have deteriorated, leaving them in a state of disrepair with leaking roofs, deteriorating furniture and damaged rails.
Other News
In addition, the association pushed for an upward review of entry levels to CONMESS 3/6 as an incentive to attract and retain doctors amid a nationwide gross shortage of medical doctors in the country.
Under the terms of the MOU, the Benue State Government is expected to pay the withheld January salary within 72 hours of the suspension of the strike, settle the 18 months’ CONMESS arrears within six weeks and resolve pension remittance and over-taxation issues within eight weeks of the strike’s suspension.
On their part, ARD BSUTH pledged to maintain industrial harmony, while the agreed timelines are being implemented.
The association described the suspension of the strike as a demonstration of goodwill and a commitment to dialogue, expressing hope that the government would act swiftly to consolidate the current window of normalcy and prevent further disruption of healthcare services.
The association also expressed regret over rumoured mass exodus of doctors during the strike, expressing hope that the Benue State Government would expedite action on the implementation of the agreed terms, in order to consolidate on this window of normalcy, forestall further disruptions in healthcare service delivery in BSUTH, retain existing staff and attract more medical personnel to the hospital.
The Union commended the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, the BSUTH Board Chairman and the President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), as well as other stakeholders, including MDCAN, NARD, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Benue State branch and medical elders for their mediation efforts.
The association restated its commitment of her members to their sacred mandate of caring for their patients and pledged to continue to fight on the side of patients against pain and disease.
