Federal Government of Nigeria and striking members of the Association Of Resident Doctors, NARD have reached some levels of understanding after a meeting that lasted several hours in Abuja.
This is contain in a document of understanding signed by officials of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission Federal Ministries Of Health and Labour and Employment.
The meeting which was chaired by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, also agreed that NARD will meet with its Executive within 24 hours with a view of suspending the three- day old Nationwide strike.
The meeting also agreed that Nobody will be victimized for any activity connected with or for participating in the industrial action.
The meeting noted that the Federal Government had earlier addressed most of the original eight demands made by NARD and the remaining two were in different stages of being resolved.
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The meeting recalled that it had been agreed that the issue Of Payment of outstanding 2014, 2015, and 2016 arrears would be further discussed Post Covid-19. Therefore, no agreement was breached.
The Meeting was satisfied that the N20 Billion already appropriated in 2020 Covid-19 Budget has been exhausted to N19 Billion and praised the Federal Government and Mr. President for approving additional N8.9 billion to pay up the large chunk of the June 2020 Covid-19 allowance to all Medical Health Workers, noting that This has been cash backed and the mandate sent to the Central Bank of Nigeria for payments to start with effect from today, September 9, 2020.
The amount brings the total disbursement to about N28 Billion on Payment of all owed arrears of the Consequential Adjustment of the National Minimum Wage to NARD members, and implementation of such in States Tertiary Health Institutions, It was noted that those affected were the Youth Corp Members and House Officers who are regarded as ad hoc staff.
For State Hospitals,It was agreed that the Federal Government can only be persuasive.
It was recalled that NARD had been assigned the responsibility to submit a list from the defaulting hospitals to the Federal Ministry of Health for onward transmission to the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning.
On Domestication of the Residency Training Act by State Governments, the meeting recognizing the Autonomy of States within the Federation, agreed that the issue would be tabled at the National Economic Council and National Council of Health to persuade the States to domesticate the Act.
Editor Paul Akhagbemhe
