Doctors’ Strike: We Trust Osinbajo’s Judgement – NARD

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has declared that it stood behind Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s judgement in resolving the ongoing industrial crisis between the Federal Government and the doctors. The Doctors said this was necessary after the Vice President intervened and presented the true situation which other government officials have not given the medics since the disputes started a few months ago.

Credible sources at the meeting revealed that Osinbajo asked for details of the grievances of the striking doctors. The source said Osinbajo had reached out to the doctors and “told us he needed all the details of our grievances and that he would not want us to end the strike and commence another later in the future.”
When contacted, the Vice President of NARD, Adejo Arome, confirmed that the vice president had a zoom meeting with an official of the association on Friday.

According to Arome, while reaching out to the association, the Vice President said he needed first-hand information on the issues involved.

He said, “Vice President Osinbajo reached out to us. He met with the President yesterday (Friday). It was actually a zoom meeting he had with our president ( Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi) though some of us were there. He (Osinbajo) initiated the meeting because he wanted to get the information about what was going on.

“He said he needed details of everything that happened. He asked calmly and we believe that he would do something and we also believe that very soon, he would call us officially (for a meeting).

“We gave him the information (that he requested). The information we gave him was first-hand and authentic. We are sure other government officials won’t give him such details at all about the whole issue.

“He told us that he did not want the issue to be resolved now and later there would be another strike.

“He said he wants to put the problem to rest once and for all. We are waiting for him to invite us officially and we are certain that he is going to do it. We trust his judgement.”

NARD had declared the strike action on July 30 at its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting with the theme “The Nigerian doctor, an endangered species: grappling with a pandemic, poor workplace infrastructure and security threats.”

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) said the Federal Government has yet to reach out to the association.

Notwithstanding, the association stated that the 21-day strike notice it issued to the Federal Government stands regardless.
NMA said, “The 21-day notice was to give the government time to meet the demands of our affiliate members such as NARD, Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria and Medical and Dental Specialist Association in Basic Medical Sciences.

“Apparently, nothing has been forthcoming as they have not reached out to us and even NARD and as you are aware, the matter with NARD is still in the court of law.

“Once government cooperates and attends to the demands of NARD and the other affiliates, then there won’t be any problem.

“But at the end of the ultimatum, if things don’t meet our expectations, the National Executive Council of our association will take decisions.

“On the issues of the salary of resident doctors that was withheld, we are working behind closed doors to make sure that things are resolved.”
The medics are said to be demanding an adjustment of Consolidated Health Salary Structure as was done with Consolidated Medical Salary Structure since 2014; payment of all withheld April and May 2018 Salaries of members and withheld Salaries in Federal Medical Center, Owerri, Jos University Hospital and Lagos University Teaching Hospital.

Others include the review of the defective implementation of COVID-19 Special Inducement and Hazard Allowance; implementation of National Industrial Court of Nigeria Alternative Dispute Resolution, Consent judgment and other court judgments; increase in retirement age from 60 to 65 years for health workers and 70 years for Consultant Health Professionals.