House of Representatives Committee on Healthcare Services on Friday disclosed that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila would on Tuesday next week meet with the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, and other stakeholders over the ongoing nationwide strike by doctors.
This was disclosed by journalists by the Chairman of the committee, Tanko Sununu after the closed door meeting held between the committee and the Federal Ministry of Health.
Sununu after the five-hour, meeting pleaded with the doctors to suspend their industrial action in the interest of the poor masses who cannot afford health services in private facilities even as he assured that the Federal Government would address their grievances.
Sununu said, “It is a very contentious issue and it took long because we tried to address the issues one by one and we came out with some resolutions. One of the resolutions is that as of today because there are so many infractions, we have decided to constitute three basic committees.
“One of the committees is to sort out the issue of House Officers and they are to commence work with immediate effect, and submit the authenticated list to the IPPIS (Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System) office within 24 hours so that payment of those who have been omitted would be done with immediate effect.
“The other committee is to be headed by a director in the Ministry of Labour (Employment and Productivity), with membership from Ministry of Health, NARD, IPPIS, and Committee of CMDs (Chief Medical Directors) to look at all the infractions that were noticed, involving multiple payments and other issues; to also suggest punitive measures to be meted out on those who have acted wrongly. That would also have to commence work immediately and submit the report to the Federal Ministry of Health, to be copied to the committee for necessary actions to be taken”.
Sununu also said the committee resolved that the affected House Officers must be paid within the shortest possible time.
