President of the Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) of Nigeria has asked the Federal Government to stand up to its responsibilities and pay the salaries of the striking doctors.

Dr. Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi speaking on behalf of resident doctors on Channels Television Friday, said the government is to be blamed for failing to do its job, rather than blame the doctors for embarking on industrial action.

President of the association said, the Federal Government had mentioned that 46 resident doctors had been paid the “Death In Service Insurance”, a statement which he said was false as 19 members have died due to COVID-19 and the families are yet to get paid.

Dr. Okhuaihesuyi also insisted that most of the doctors in the federal government-owned teaching hospitals have not been paid between 3 to 6 months salaries.