By John Ikani
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has rejected the new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) presented by the Federal Government to end its ongoing strike.
The NARD National President, Dr Okhuaihesuyi Uyilawa, said this while addressing newsmen at the end of a closed door meeting with the federal government and other relevant stakeholders on Sunday in Abuja.
According to Okhuaihesuyi, he could not sign the MoU as a result of an undisclosed clause.
“We rejected the MoU; we didn’t sign it because we feel we are being punished for the failures of those in government,” he said.
He said the nationwide strike would continue and the association would proceed with the court case.
Also addressing journalists after the over six hours closed-door meeting, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, said all other unions in the negotiation, including the Nigeria Medical Association and the Medical and Dental Consultants of Nigeria, signed the new agreement, having agreed on all the issues raised.
The minister also clarified that the meeting did not discuss the issues of ‘no work, no pay,’ but said all parties at the meeting agreed to an out-of-court settlement.
Recall that the doctors had embarked on strike on August 2, citing unpaid benefits and other issues.
Ngige had dragged the association before the national industrial court over the strike.
While the industrial action lingered, the federal government threatened to enforce a ‘no work, no pay’ policy.
