Resident doctors call off strike

The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has resolved to suspend its strike embarked on since Sept. 4.

Sen. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment said this in an text messages (SMS) forwarded to Labour correspondents on Thursday morning in Abuja.

It would be recalled that NARD embarked on a nationwide indefinite strike to press home a six-point demands which included non-payment of salary arrears, sacking of some of their colleagues, non-payment of “skipping’’ entitlement and the non-inclusion in IPPIS platform.

Ngige said that the SMS was signed by Mr John Onyebueze, President of NARD.

He said that the striking doctors in Nigeria have agreed to suspend their 10-day old industrial action.

He said that the doctors were directed to resume work nationwide on Friday 8 am local time.

“The union resolved to suspend the strike and to re-assess the situation in two weeks at its Annual General Meeting in Abuja.

“The suspension is in response to the efforts so far made by the government in addressing the items on the notice of their ultimatum.

“This also as well as implementing the contents of the re-negotiated memorandum of settlement,‘’ he said.

The doctors action is however coming just as the Joint Health Sector Union have given notice to begin an indefinite strike on Wednesday next week.

Meanwhile, Dr Onyebueze John, Presidnet of NARD, confirmed that the strike has been called off following a meeting of the executive council late Wednesday night.

A statement from John said the doctors would meet again in two weeks to reassess the situation.

”The National Executive Council of NARD met from 6:00 pm Tuesday, 12th September to 12:15am Thursday, 14th September 2017 to review the status of our nationwide strike and the offer from Government in the re-negotiated Memorandum of Terms of Settlement (MTS) with Government.

”After due consideration of the efforts by Government and progress made in addressing the items on the notice of our ultimatum, and strike, as well as implementing the contents of the re-negotiated MTS, NARD resolved to suspend her 10 days strike, and to reassess situation in two weeks at our AGM in Abuja,” the statement reads.