By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
There seems to be no solution in sight for the three-week-old strike embarked upon by National Association of Residential (NARD) as the issues which led to the dispute have been blamed on the Ministry of Health and other sister federal government agencies.
This is the stand of the President of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Professor Innocent Ujah, who is holding the Ministry of Health responsible for the on-going NARD strike which has paralysed medical services across the country.
Speaking on Channels Television breakfast programme Sunrise Daily on Monday, Prof. Ujah pointed accusing fingers to Ministry of Health, Finance and other relevant ministries and agencies of the federal government for the trouble in the health sector.
According to him: “My pain is that federal government and its relevant ministries, departments and agencies are not doing their jobs. Specifically, the Ministry of Health, Finance, Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, etc are not doing their utmost best to resolve the issues which led to the strike”.
Prof. Ujah also said: “one of the factors that brought about the NARD strike is the circular that emanated from the Office of the Head of Service saying that Residency Training Fund will not be given to: House Officers and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)”.
“It’s a bad policy to say that an NYSC doctor is no longer a doctor, it is terrible, not good. This is why we are losing our doctors to foreign countries. Many of our well trained doctors are leaving for Saudi Arabia, Canada, UK and other European nations”.
The NMA President also accused the federal government and its agencies of not keeping to promises or agreements reached with the Nigerian doctors in the past, saying that “the problem is that relevant government agencies don’t keep to their promises”.
Narrating the steps NMA has taken to ensure that NARD return to their duty posts, Prof Ujah said he met with the Minister of Labour to discuss the NARD strike and how to resolve it as quickly as possible.
Said he: “Luckily the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria directed that issues around it should be resolved immediately but I don’t know why the President’s order should not be carried out by the relevant MDAs”.
Reminded that the federal government which called for a crisis meeting with NARD through NMA has started implementing the
‘No Work No Pay Policy which the Minister of Labour, Dr. Chris Ngige said was not discussed is the consultative meeting, he denied knowledge of it.
Said he: “July salaries have not been paid so I am not aware that government has refused to pay the striking doctors. In any case, I will go back to Minister of Labour to discuss further on the issues so that NARD can call off the strike”.
Prof. Ujah however called on those whom Mr. President has given the directive or the task to resolve the issues with NARD to do the needful.
Industrial Action enters Day 22.
Prompt News can confirm that NARD has given the conditions for calling off the 22-day strike. The two demands are the withdrawal of Case from Court and reversal of the “No Work No Pay” policy by the federal government of Nigeria.
