NEGOTIATION CONTINUES BETWEEN NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT & STRIKING DOCTORS

Health is Wealth

NIGERIAN DOCTORS UNION MEETS GOVERNMENT FOR NEGOTIATION

■ The Nigerian Association of Residents Doctors on Tuesday had a negotiation meeting at the office of the Nigerian Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige,  in Abuja.

The meeting which is an effort to suspend the ongoing industrial action by the doctors serving in government-owned health facilities had in attendance top officials of the doctors’ union.

Notwithstanding, the Nigerian government had dragged the doctors’ union to the National Industrial Court which has adjourned hearing on the case to September 15 2021.

Recall the country’s Health Minister Dr. Osagie Ehanire had last week  threatened to enforce the “ No Work No Pay” policy against the striking doctors, stating that the government is in talks with fresh medical graduates to fill the voids of the doctors.

Reports monitored by Sunbight Media established that the Labour and Employment Minister had earlier in the day held a similar meeting with the Minister of Health and other relevant stakeholders, including Dr Peter Tarfa and Abdulaziz Abdullahi, Permanent Secretaries Ministry  of Labour and Employment as well as  Health, respectively.

The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) embarked on a countrywide industrial action since August 2, 2021, over alleged poor conditions of service and the inability of the government to meet their demands.

The doctors also apologized to Nigerians for the decision which they insisted was a result of the government’s insincerity and failure in its responsibilities.●