Solidarity with the Nigerian National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) Strike!

We, as the IWGB, congratulate you on your brave and just collective strike action for backdated pay and a fair, dignified salary for the critical work you do.

We believe that healthcare, and peace of mind of access to healthcare, is a basic human right. To deny workers on the front line of administering medical care to its people due to withholding of pay and broken promises is a disgrace, not only to the dignity of doctors but also to the people who they care for. On top of that, because of the terrible situation of pay and conditions for doctors in Nigeria, the healthcare services in the developed world opportunistically recruit your Nigerian trained doctors to bolster up their inadequately resourced service with doctors that have been financed and trained in Nigeria.

Your decision to take this action must have been hard to make as it will have an impact on patients. However, it is only through this stance that the authorities will be forced to meet your just demands to subsequently care properly for your patients.

Just like health workers all over the world, you have been on the front line caring for Covid patients, often at risk of infection yourself in an environment of inadequate medical facilities and a government who refuse to live up to their responsibilities and promises.

As a grassroots and democratic union that supports some of the most vulnerable, oppressed, and exploited gig economy workers, we believe that international workers unity and networking will help workers in our respective countries in their fights for justice and dignity.

We do not see this as a single gesture but the start of principled unity and support that will grow and develop helping to build international workers unity and solidarity.

We will support NARD by sharing your struggle and asking for support from our members of our union. We call on other trade unions in the UK and internationally to share and support your struggle!