Nigerian doctors strike over pay, inadequate facilities

Doctors union says the strike is indefinite and there will be no exemptions for treating coronavirus cases.

Doctors in Nigeria’s state-run hospitals have began a strike over pay, insurance benefits and poor facilities as the country faces a third wave of coronavirus. The strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), which represents about 40 percent of doctors in Africa’s most populous country, started on Monday and is the latest in a series of medical staff work stoppages. “The nationwide strike started at 8am. It’s an indefinite strike,” NARD president Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi told AFP news agency. “There will be no exemption for doctors handling COVID-19 cases.”