The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has resolved to suspend its strike embarked on since September 4, 2017.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, disclosed this in a text message (SMS) to Labour Correspondents yesterday morning, in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Resident doctors embarked on a nationwide indefinite strike, to press home six-point demands which included non-payment of salary arrears, sacking of some of their colleagues, non-payment of “skipping’’ entitlements and the non-inclusion in the Integrated Payroll and Personal Information (IPPIS) platform.
Ngige said the SMS was signed by Mr John Onyebueze, President of NARD, who directed the doctors to resume work nationwide on Friday at 8:00am.
“The union resolved to suspend the strike in order to re-assess the situation in two weeks at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Abuja. The suspension is in response to the efforts so far made by the government in addressing the items on the notice of their ultimatum. This will also enable them to implement the contents of the re-negotiated memorandum of settlement,” he said.
The doctors action was, however, coming just as the Joint Health Sector Union has given notice to begin an indefinite strike on Wednesday next week.
Meanwhile, NARD President, Dr. Onyebueze, confirmed that the strike has been called off, following a meeting of the executive council late Wednesday night. He said the doctors would meet again in two weeks to reassess the situation.
“he National Executive Council of NARD met from 6:00pm Tuesday, September 12 to 12:15am Thursday, September 14, 2017, to review the status of our nationwide strike and the offer from government in the re-negotiated Memorandum of Terms of Settlement (MTS) with government.
“After due consideration of the efforts by government, progress made in addressing the items on the notice of our ultimatum, the strike as well as implementing the contents of the re-negotiated MTS, NARD resolved to suspend her 10 days strike and to reassess situation in two weeks at our AGM in Abuja,” he said.