After about thirteen hours of brainstorming between the federal government and strike-threatening Nigerian Resident Doctors NARD, The meeting ended with a Memorandum of understanding and to reconvene in the next one month.
In his closing comments, minister of labour and employment, Chris Ngige said Government has successfully arrested a planned industrial action by NARD billed to begin April 1, 2021.
The minister said by the understanding reached NARD is expected to collect copies of signed MOU later on Thursday since the meeting lasted until the early hours and immediately meet with its members to step down the industrial action.
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Ngige noted that before the meeting started on Wednesday, March 31, the federal government had already began meeting some of the demands of the doctors.
He said part of the understanding reached at the meeting was a mandate to the medical and dental Council to compile all names of House officers being owed, liase with the Nigeria medical association and ministry of health to.ensure their accounts are credited before the Easter break.
The closing comments by the NARD President, UYILAWA OKHUAIHESUYI makes it unsure if Thursday’s strike will be stepped down, as he only thanked parties present and noted the Memorandum of action reached.
Efforts by ait.live to force words out from NARD officials proved difficult.
The National Association of Resident Doctors are accusing the federal government of renaging on its agreements to pay between three and five months salaries of House officers and recruitment of more house officers.
Others include non payment of National minimum wage, Abolishment of the Bench fees and refusal to increase hazard allowance.
Permanent secretary ministry of health, Abdullahi Mashi who represented his two ministers had at the opening of the meeting said all issues raised are being attended to, but sued for more patience and understanding from the doctors, while appealing to other health workers not to take advantage of the situation.
Mashi stressed that the country’s Health sector is already overwhelmed following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
(Editor Paul Akhagbemhe)
