By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Apparently to find a way to resolve the issues which led to the nationwide strike by National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), the Federal Government and the striking medical workers will return to the negotiation table in Abuja on Friday.
This cheering news was made public by Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige while briefing State House Correspondents after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday to brief him on the matter.
According to him, NARD leadership has been invited for the crucial meeting which will also be attended by Ministers of Finance and Health as well as the leadership of Nigeria Media Association (NMA).
Ngige also revealed that Head of Civil Service of the Federation and other relevant bodies will attend the Friday meeting just as he disclosed that NMA which is the parent body of NARD on Tuesday met with his ministry to deliberate on the on-going strike of the medical doctors.
He said the threat of Association of Resident Doctors and others in the Dental profession to join the strike were discussed with NMA but frowned at some of the demands of the striking doctors.
Said he: “About four issues in the demands of NARD have to do with state governments and the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) have been informed of it. Federal Government has been doing everything within its powers to resolve the issues.
However, NARD is guilty of not doing the needful as some of its members are not in government payment platform (IPPIS) hence the Ministry of Finance cannot complete the payments. Government wants to see who pays and who receives and if that is not done there is problem”.
The Labour Minister insists that federal government will adopt the International Labour Organisation (ILO) universal law of No Work No Pay in the dispute with NARD.
