President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi has on Saturday announced the suspension of the strike by Resident Doctors after 10 days. The strike which commenced April 1, 2021, was suspended after the association signed a new agreement with the federal government in line with their 13-point demand on Friday. During the reconciliatory meeting with Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, and other representatives of the government, both parties signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA).
Speaking after the meeting, Ngige told Newsmen that the Federal government has set up a committee to assess the NARD’s issues including irregular payment, noting that the committee will revert within the next 72 hours.
“A five-man committee has been set up, comprising of the government agencies concerned — federal ministry of health chairing — representatives of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, accountant-general’s office, NMA, Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, and the chairman of the committee of CMDs,” the minister said.
“They’re to work and smoothen rough edges as those affected in the irregularities we mentioned, which is the issue of double payments in some cases. So, they have to manage the situation and regularise. There are issues of some still omitted.
“We gave them 72 hours to meet from tomorrow and give us a clean, authenticated list, so that even in the subsequent months, we won’t have all these hiccups anymore,” Ngige added.
