NARD Strike: Patients Stranded In Hospitals As Federal Government Orders Doctors To Resume Work

•••Convenes Emergency Meeting Wednesday

The striking National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) paralyzed medical attention to patients in most government owned hospitals on Monday.

This is even as the Federal government later Monday ordered the striking NARD members to return to work as most of their demands had already been met.

From the National Hospital Abuja, Maitama General Hospital Abuja, to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH; National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi; Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Metta; the striking Doctors stayed away from work.

Few of the Doctors who were seen around, for instance at the National Hospital Abuja, performed no active work.

Also, some patients with critical ailments were merely chatted with without any desired medical attention. Some laboratory tests were also shelved due to absence of the Doctors in charge.

The Federal Government, Monday evening, ordered members of National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, to return to their duty posts immediately,

The Minister of Labour, Sen. Chris Ngige, while summoning a meeting with the leadership of NARD Wednesday, in Abuja, cited that six of the eight demands of NARD had been met.

Through a statement by the Deputy Director/Head of Press of the ministry, Charles Akpan, Ngige said
even with the lean resources available due to the COVID-19 effects on oil output and price, resulting in low revenue, the Federal Government had addressed majority of their demands, including Special Hazard and Inducement Allowances, and Group Life Insurance.

He however said “by the labour laws and the International Labour Organisation, ILO, conventions when issues are being conciliated, all parties are enjoined not to employ arm-twisting methods to intimidate or foist state of helplessness on the other party, in this case, their employers, the Federal Ministry of Health.

“There is a pending case in the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, NICN, instituted by two civil society groups against NARD, the Minister of Health, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment.”

He advised the resident doctors to respect the country’s laws and withdraw the ultimatum issued to their members to down tools with effect from 8a.m., Monday, September 7.

According to the Minister, the life insurance, “is not only for health professionals and workers but prepared also for all federal civil servants and public servants in federal organisations that are treasury funded.”

He recalled that the Federal Government also appropriated N4 billion from the Special Intervention COVID-19 N500 billion 2020 Appropriation, for funding of Medical Residency Training and with intent to do same in the ongoing 2021 budget to be submitted to NASS for consideration. Already, the N4 billion has been processed for payment.

“Other issues like the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital right between NARD and the authorities were addressed, while old issues not related to the COVID-19 period and issues of state governments not addressing the Consequential Minimum Wage Adjustments, and low patronage of Residency programme are work in progress,” he added.