By Aliyu M. Aliyu
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has ended its two-month strike and plans to resume work on Wednesday.
It may be recalled that in August, NARD went on strike in response to a disagreement with the federal government over the lack of medical equipment at public tertiary hospitals.
However, in a communique signed by the Nigerian Medical Association’s Secretary-General, Ekpe Philips Uche, following a meeting between NMA and NARD delegates on Sunday in Abuja, the NMA advised NARD to call a halt to the ongoing industrial action.
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At the meeting, NMA mandated the National Officers Committee, NOC, to ensure the implementation of the memorandum of understanding signed with the federal government on August 21.
The association asked NOC to report back to the NMA’s National Executive Council on the progress made in implementing the memorandum of understanding on a regular basis.
NMA also mandated the NOC to continue to interface with the chairmen of the state branches, including the FCT, on the progress being made.
NARD President, Godiya Ishaya, on Monday, confirmed to journalists that the association has officially called off the strike. The National Officers Committee, NOC, was charged at the meeting with ensuring the implementation of the memorandum of understanding signed with the federal government on August 21.
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The association asked NOC to report back to the NMA’s National Executive Council on the progress being made in implementing the memorandum of understanding on a regular basis.
He stated, “We’ve officially suspended the strike, which will resume at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday.” We made the decision in the wee hours of today. We held an emergency meeting from 5:30 p.m. on Sunday until early this morning, and the NEC decided that, after reviewing the progress made thus far, the strike should be called off.”