The Federal Government has described the nationwide strike embarked upon by Resident Doctors on Monday as shocking.
Government said the action of the doctors was contrary to the agreement they both reached at a meeting earlier held on ways of resolving the crisis.
In a statement issued by the spokesman of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Samuel Olowookere, the government said the sudden change of mind by the leadership of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD ) on the agreement reached was disappointing.
He however added in the statement that another meeting had been scheduled to hold on Wednesday to resolve the issues.
The statement reads in part: “Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by the Trade Dispute Act 2004, has apprehended the ongoing strike by NARD. Consequently, the meeting between NARD and the government earlier scheduled for November 2 is now slated for Wednesday, September 6, 2017 by noon at the Conference Room of the Minister of Labour and Employment.
“All stakeholders are implored to attend this crucial meeting. The health and well-being of Nigerians are cardinal to President Buhari’s administration. Hence, every measure necessary shall be taken to restore normalcy.”
At its national executive council meeting held in Abuja, the doctors rejected the terms of settlement proposed by the government.
In its notice of strike to chief medical directors and medical directors of hospitals and signed by the President and Secretary General, Dr. Onyebueze John and Dr. Aneke Emmanuel, they did not give any reason for the rejection of the terms.
“The National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria, rising from her extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting which held on Sunday, 3rd September 2017 at Parkview Hotels, Abuja, rejected the Memorandum of terms of settlement from government on the items of her demand for strike and resolved to proceed on the proposed national, total and indefinite strike with effect from 8am Monday, 4th September 2017,” the statement reads in part.
The grouse of the doctors include the need for government to “pay our salary shortfall of 2016 and January to May 2017; rectify the salary shortfall from August 2017; circularize House Officers’ entry point; correct the stagnation of promotion of our members and properly place them on their appropriate grade level; enroll and capture our members on the Integrated Personnel Payment Information System (IPPIS) and budget, deduct and remit both the employer’s and employees’ pension contributions to our retirement savings account since 2013.”
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