The federal government has appealed to the striking resident doctors to return to work, assuring that it is working towards meeting their demands.
At a media conference on Monday, Minister of State for Health, Iziaq Adekunle Salako, confirmed some measures the federal government is putting in place to address the 19-point demand of striking resident doctors.
On the issue of manpower shortage, Salako said the federal government is setting up a committee to develop a universal protocol for engagement of locum staff in hospitals
He apologised to Nigerians, especially those affected by the doctors’ strike, assuring that the government will do all it can to ensure the healthcare sector is revamped and accessible to all.
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Meanwhile, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, NARD in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, has told the federal government that it will not call off the ongoing strike until its demands are met.
Recall that on September 19, resident doctors in the territory called off their warning strike to resume work on September 22, after 12 days of strike to allow the government to meet their demands.
It has been 42 days since the intervention by the Senate and appeals from other well-meaning Nigerians, but the government has done nothing so far.
The doctors are not happy with the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) over their treatment, hence the need to continue with the strike irrespective of whether the national body calls off the ongoing nationwide strike.
They insist that their demands are not only for their benefit but that of all Nigerians.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
