By Chioma Iruke
Members of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) have resolved to continue its ongoing strike despite efforts made by the Federal Government and the order of the National Industrial Court.
The association’s position was contained in a communique issued at the end of its meeting and made available to journalists on Thursday.
The communique was jointly signed by the President of NARD, Okhuaihesuyi Uyilawa; Secretary General, Jerry Isogun; and Publicity Secretary, Dotun Oshikoya.
It was titled ‘Communique issued at the end of an extraordinary National Executive Council meeting of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors.’
According to the communique, members of NEC reviewed the efforts of government and resolved to continue with the industrial action until all their demands are met.
“After critical appraisal of the actions of both federal and state governments on all the issues affecting the welfare of our members as observed above and the perpetual insincerity from government as evidence by the reckless ex parte injunctions sought by the government and the ambiguity in the interpretation of the ruling of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, the NEC unanimously agreed via vote to sustain the ongoing industrial action until her demands are met as contained in the MOA signed more than 140 days ago and the recent MOU signed between the government and NMA,” it read.
In arriving at the conclusion, NARD decried what it described as the nonchalant attitude of government officials towards the sufferings of Nigerian doctors.
Specifically, it faulted the decision of the Federal Government to approach the National Industrial Court to stop the strike.