JUST IN: Doctors Suspend Protest After Speaking with FG

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors NARD has suspended its planned protest and picketing of the Federal Ministry of Health, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation as well as all Federal and State tertiary health institutions nationwide.

The decision was taken after a long meeting with the Federal Government, which lasted into yesterday night.

After meeting with the Executive arm of the Government, which was represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Health Dr Salma Anas, among other government officials and the leadership of the National Assembly,

The National Executive Council NEC of NARD decided to suspend their planned protest with the view of reviewing progress made towards their demands in 72 hours.

According to NARD President, Innocent Orji the industrial action by the association, however, continues.

Orji said, “Yes, we put on hold the protest that was supposed to start this (Wednesday) morning but the strike is continuing. We’ll review again in 72 hours; that’s the position of the National Executive Council.”

The NARD President said his colleagues have eight major demands including the need for the government to recruit new hands to replace those who have left the system through migration (brain drain) or death.

“Our members are suffering. Nigerians are suffering too. When you don’t have the right number of doctors in the hospital, there is no way it is not going to affect the healthcare service delivery system. And nobody has come out to tell us that what we are saying is not true,” he said.

“The government on its own set up a ministerial committee that came up with a guideline since February this year, why hasn’t that guideline been circularised?” he quizzed, saying the circular would help to reduce the brain drain as doctors would be immediately recruited upon the completion of their education.

Orji said the government has not shown commitment to meeting the demands of the Association.

The suspension of the planned protest followed a meeting between NARD executive and that of the Senate led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.