Minister and doctors trade blames over protracted strike

The ongoing strike embarked on by Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) will enter its third week tomorrow despite the health minister's declaration that the strike is illegal and unwarranted. 

According to Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, the ministry is already working with the NARD and the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to address some of issues raised by the striking doctors.

“The strike by Resident Doctors was uncalled for because we were already handling the issues after our meeting with the Nigerian Medical Association. I still remember that the NMA gave us an ultimatum to look at certain issues and we had very long meeting with the NMA and indeed NARD participated in that meeting.

“There is a committee being chaired by Head of Civil Service of the Federation in which the NMA, including NARD are well represented. These are the same matters being handled; so there were persons already in a committee handling those issues and they should have exercised some patience.

“We understand that some of the issues have not been resolved but I think we can do well and exercise some patience before going on strike because when we go on strike, people’s lives are involved,” he stated.

In response however, the striking doctors have declared that they will continue with the strike action. In a communiqué signed by the association's president Dr. Jubril Abdullahi and acting Secretary general, Dr. Udu Chijoke Udu they accused the government of delaying in resolving the crisis. They said the government is yet to meet their demands hence the strike would continue.

Before the strike can be called off, they said "All  salaries and allowances of our members (House Members and Resident Doctors) must be paid in full with immediate effect.

 

"Government must release and implement the stakeholders' agreement on residency training program of 5th and 6th July, 2013."

They also called for an "elaborate investigation into alleged victimisation believed to have been perpetuated against members at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Imo State."

Dr. Jubril Abdullahi added that the association can no longer trust the government to effect any agreement reached.

He said: "This is not the first time we have been talking; we have met, signed agreements, yet nothing has change for more than forty years now."