The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, on Wednesday,
said striking resident doctors must be patient with the government
as their demands are being met.
The Minister made the plea in an appearance on Channels
Television’s special COVID-19 program.
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) commenced an
industrial strike on Monday amid the coronavirus pandemic, citing
unmet demands such as the non-payment of COVID-19 hazard
allowance.
The doctors, in June, had also downed tools for one week.
Mr Ehanire, on Wednesday, said it was “not a good time to go on
strike”.
“Salaries are not outstanding, salaries are paid up-to-date;
hazard allowance was outstanding up till a few days ago, as
agreed,” Ehanire said. “But there is another tranche that is coming
up on stream, which we are talking about with the Ministry of
Finance.
“What they must understand is that there are several ministries
dealing with these issues. these ministries have a lot on their
plate. We are urging and advocating for attention for the doctors.
We are asking the doctors for patience. We want to assure them they
will not be shortchanged.”
The provision of life insurance is one of the key demands of the
doctors.
“The insurance subject is under the office of the Head of
Service; it’s a civil servant activity,” the Minister said. “And we
are urging the office in charge to expedite settlement for those
who lost their lives, to ensure that the insurance is well
kept.
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“These are not things that will happen overnight. If you don’t
get it today, you will get it tomorrow. We are going to ensure that
all those promises are kept.”
Earlier on Wednesday, the Minister directed youth service
doctors to operate instead of the striking doctors, as government
representatives continued to negotiate with NARD officials.
“The NYSC members “are not to take over, but to support the
consultants,” Ehanire said. “The consultants are a category of
senior doctors who run the programs and are supported by young
doctors. Consultants oversee the work of resident doctors and
resident doctors oversee the work of youth service doctors.
“Consultants will oversee the work of youth service doctors to
make sure that the COVID centres are attended to, emergency centres
and essential services are attended to, and then routine services,
as much as possible, are also attended to.
“The Ministry has a responsibility to ensure Nigerians continue
to receive health services.”