Federal government yesterday appealed to the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD ) to shelve its ongoing strike in the interest of Nigerians.
The permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Kachollom Daju, told journalists at a briefing in Abuja that efforts to address their demands have reached the highest level of discussions with the president.
The development came as the doctors prepare to picket the Federal Ministry of Health today over unmet demands that bordered on their conditions of service.
Although the federal government through the Federal Ministry of Health is yet to withdraw the “No work, No Pay” policy against the striking doctors, the permanent secretary appealed for more time for the government to address all demands, including” One-for-One” replacement for exited doctors and payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF).
According to the permanent secretary, the MRTF payment has been captured in the 2023 appropriation and payment would commence when the operation of 2023 fiscal year starts as agreed upon by both parties in a signed memorandum of understanding after conciliation meeting between representatives of federal government, NMA and NARD on 19 May, 2023.
“As a follow-up to their May 19th meeting, we held another meeting here on the 17th of July, 2023, to review the level of implementation from the government side and we appealed to them to please tarry a while and let the government see what they can do, because this is a new regime. We just came in on the 29th of May, and we couldn’t welcome them with a strike.
“To be honest, the federal government on its side has gone quite a bit of trying to ensure that the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors do not go on strike. But they still went ahead, because we have gone to various levels, gone to the highest level as it is, and discussed with them, we expected, with all sense of responsibility, that the resident doctors would indeed listen to the federal government,” Kachollom told journalists yesterday.
She added, “The main crux of the matter for now are two main issues. Payments of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund and one-on-one placements of exited doctors. On the immediate payment of 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund, we appealed to them that they should kindly await when ministers are in place.
“For you to demand from the federal government that you want one-on-one replacement immediately, you know how these things are done, we are all in the federal system and we have pleaded again that just give us a little more time, the committee will wrap up.
“Know that your parent ministry alongside other government agencies are working to ensure that this matter is sorted out, so may I appeal once again, and I’m speaking to the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, to please call off the strike and go back to work.
“Not just because the government is dealing with you, no, we’re talking about the lives of our citizens, our children, the populace who depend on you for medical services, for healthcare, for well-being”, she added.
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