The Federal Government on Monday began negotiation with the
Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) with a view to get
them to shelve their planned strike as the nation needs their
cooperation to successfully battle the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire has also begged the
resident doctors not to carry out their threat to go on indefinite
strike at the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum issued to the
government.
The minister, however, assured the resident doctors that as a
member of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) himself, he
understood their position and “will make sure we see to your
needs.”
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) had on
Saturday threatened that its members would proceed on a “total and
indefinite strike”, if the Federal Government failed to address
their demands within 14 days.
The association, in a communique issued at the end of its
virtual 40th Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) and Scientific
Conference, lamented the poor working condition of its members
across the country.
NARD stated that some of its members were harassed, intimidated
and maltreated in Lagos, Kaduna, Plateau State and the FCT in the
course of performing their lawful duty.
It, therefore, gave a 14-day ultimatum within which the
government should address their demand or face a total and
indefinite strike.
But the Minister of Health said at the daily briefing by the
Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja on Monday that the
Federal Government team led by the Minister of Labour and
Productivity, Chris Ngige, has commenced negotiation with the
resident doctors.
Dr Ehanire said: “As we speak, negotiation is going on with the
Minister of Labour. The permanent secretary of the Ministry of
Health is there representing us. Many of the points raised by
resident doctors are issues that have easy solution that can be
resolved. Some of them are actually from way back, they are not
new.”
The minister also stated that the other issue regarding Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE) is being addressed, adding, “the ones
regarding the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); that is also
being addressed. PPE are being supplied as requested and as
needed.”
He added: “There was a time in the past when we had some
constraints but we have actually gone pass that level now and there
are plans to continue to increase the supply of PPE that we
have.
“So, I also used the opportunity to speak with the resident’s
doctors. I urged them not to carry out that threat at this time.
Everything is being done to make sure all the questions are
answered and I also want to say if they have any kind of grudges of
that nature in future, they should use the avenue of
communication.
“My office is always open and they can call me up or write to me
to discuss these issues at the ministerial level before it gets to
the public level, to use all avenues of collaboration.
“All of us are members of NMA and we too were once resident
doctors, so we understand your position and we will make sure we
see to your needs.”
The Federal Government on Monday began negotiation with the
Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) with a view to get
them to shelve their planned strike as the nation needs their
cooperation to successfully battle the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire has also begged the
resident doctors not to carry out their threat to go on indefinite
strike at the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum issued to the
government.
The minister, however, assured the resident doctors that as a
member of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) himself, he
understood their position and “will make sure we see to your
needs.”
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) had on
Saturday threatened that its members would proceed on a “total and
indefinite strike”, if the Federal Government failed to address
their demands within 14 days.
The association, in a communique issued at the end of its
virtual 40th Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) and Scientific
Conference, lamented the poor working condition of its members
across the country.
NARD stated that some of its members were harassed, intimidated
and maltreated in Lagos, Kaduna, Plateau State and the FCT in the
course of performing their lawful duty.
It, therefore, gave a 14-day ultimatum within which the
government should address their demand or face a total and
indefinite strike.
But the Minister of Health said at the daily briefing by the
Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja on Monday that the
Federal Government team led by the Minister of Labour and
Productivity, Chris Ngige, has commenced negotiation with the
resident doctors.
Dr Ehanire said: “As we speak, negotiation is going on with the
Minister of Labour. The permanent secretary of the Ministry of
Health is there representing us. Many of the points raised by
resident doctors are issues that have easy solution that can be
resolved. Some of them are actually from way back, they are not
new.”
The minister also stated that the other issue regarding Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE) is being addressed, adding, “the ones
regarding the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); that is also
being addressed. PPE are being supplied as requested and as
needed.”
He added: “There was a time in the past when we had some
constraints but we have actually gone pass that level now and there
are plans to continue to increase the supply of PPE that we
have.
“So, I also used the opportunity to speak with the resident’s
doctors. I urged them not to carry out that threat at this time.
Everything is being done to make sure all the questions are
answered and I also want to say if they have any kind of grudges of
that nature in future, they should use the avenue of
communication.
“My office is always open and they can call me up or write to me
to discuss these issues at the ministerial level before it gets to
the public level, to use all avenues of collaboration.
“All of us are members of NMA and we too were once resident
doctors, so we understand your position and we will make sure we
see to your needs.”