The Federal Government and the National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, have signed an agreement to avert the indefinite strike earlier scheduled to begin on Thursday, April 1.
Speaking shortly before going into a closed-door session, Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige, said the government and the resident doctors were working closely with regards to the demands of the doctors.
Briefing journalists on the outcome, Ngige assured that all the things written in the agreement will be implemented.
“Twelve hours is a lot of time. Everybody will be working. Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) will be working. And hopefully by tomorrow, you will experience the payment as agreed here for the second category of doctors (an overflow of the MDCN quota). We hope it must happen tomorrow and continue.
“So, by the time the chairman of the CMDs comes up with his final list and harmonise it with MDCN, we won’t have issue anymore over this payment or whether some doctors have not been paid.
“And with this MOA, we hope you get to your members to let them understand better that government has moved proactively to address most of the issues ahead of your coming,” Ngige added.
According to the minister, in labour parlance, what the government side has done means that they have arrested the impending industrial dispute of the doctors and the issues in contention, being addressed.
“We are happy that you understand. So, I give you assurance that most of the things written here will be done. We will assist the Federal Ministry of Health (FMH), Finance Ministry and Office of Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) to make sure that they keep to their own side of the bargain.
“The MOA says that you will talk to your people and we hope that when you come to collect your own copy tomorrow, you can tell the nation that you people are not strike mongers and that you are happy with the decisions taken so far,” he added.
