Trust deficiency fuels Resident Doctors’ continued strike in Nigeria, says NMA

*Signing MoUs with the Federal Government is an ‘academic exercise’ that does nothing to address the doctors’ demands, says Julian Ojebo, Spokesman of National Association of Resident Doctors

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

As the medical doctors under the aegis of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) continue with their national strike in Nigeria, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has submitted that a deep distrust of the Federal Government’s ability to implement its promises is prolonging the doctors’ industrial action across the country.

Innocent Ujah, President of NMA, who made this observation while featuring on Channels TV programme Monday, August 23, 2021, said that the problem the medical professionals face is that when agreements are signed, “everybody goes to sleep.”

Ujah stated: “So, there is this distrust among workers. And this is not good for the country; because we expect that those who work for our President should be truthful, honest and should comply with the agreement.”

Following their six-hour meeting with the Federal Government’s representatives at the weekend in Abuja, FCT, there were indications that the three-week-old strike would be suspended soon.

The meeting was brokered, in part by the NMA, which is the parent body of all doctors in the country.

However, the resident doctors have refused to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) produced at the end of the meeting, citing the government’s decision to institute a court action over the strike.

The resident doctors also noted that the government must reverse its ‘no work, no pay’ policy before making peace with the authorities in this regard.

On the inclement work conditions in which most of the medical doctors with in Nigeria, Julian Ojebo, Chairman of Communication and Communiqué at NARD, disclosed that the resident doctors would not resume unless their benefits have been paid.

Ojebo, who stated this during his appearance on the Channels TV Sunrise Daily, said resident doctors had been left ‘impoverished’ by the government’s inability to meet its demands.

The NARD Spokesman said: “We are not on strike for added allowances; we are not on strike for any other thing.

“We are on strike for our normal due salaries that you have not paid from January to July.

“We are talking about salary shortfalls that you have not paid from 2014 to 2016. We are talking about monies you have not paid for our medical residency training programme. These are the issues on the table, and these issues have not been resolved.”

He noted that signing MoUs was an academic exercise that does nothing to address the doctors’ demands.

“Payment of our benefits is the only actionable plan that can actually make us sign any memorandum of agreement of terms.

“Other than these, I don’t think we are being fair,” he stated.

Court orders NARD members to suspend national strike

ConsumerConnect recalls earlier, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment has announced that the Abuja Division of the National Industrial Court (NIC) ordered the National Association of Resident Doctors to suspend its ongoing nationwide strike,

Charles Akpan, Ministry’s Spokesperson, in a statement Monday afternoon said that the court presided by Justice John Targema gave the order.

This followed an ex-parte motion filed Friday last week by the Federal Ministry of Health, seeking an order of interlocutory injunction restraining members of NARD from further continuing the industrial action pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The health ministry stated that the strike which began on August 2 was contrary to Section 41 of the Trade Dispute Act.

The motion brought under Suit No: NICN/ABJ/197/2021 has the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Government as first and second claimants/applicants and NARD as the only defendant/respondent.

During proceedings on Monday, according to Akpan, the court heard the motion ex-parte and affidavit in support sworn by the Director of Legal Services at the health ministry, Ahmed Nasiru.

Akpan disclosed that Justice Targema granted an order of interlocutory injunction, compelling all members of the defendants/respondents in all the states of the Federation to suspend the industrial action and resume work immediately, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The statement said: “The court held that the continued downing of tools by the striking doctors has inflicted a lot of damage on the health system and the sick, especially in this perilous time of COVID-19 pandemic.

“Targema further ordered that the claimant/applicant and the defendant/respondent suspend all forms of hostilities forthwith pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

“The judge adjourned the matter to September 15, 2021 for the hearing of the motion on notice and any other pending application.

In his reaction to the court ruling, Sen. (Dr.) Chris Ngige, Honourable Minister for Labour and Employment, has described the court ruling as ‘a welcome development’, report added.

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