Striking doctors under the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has called off its 10 days old strike.
Just after the union signed a Memorandum of Action (MoA) with the Federal government on Saturday, the Union decided to call of the strike.
Following the meeting with the Federal government, NARD president, Dr Okhuaihesuyi Uyilawa, promised to present the latest agreement before members with a view to calling off the strike.
Confirming the development , Mr Okhuaihesuyi said that NARD decided on the suspension after a virtual meeting with union members that lasted for about 15 hours.
Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment said on Saturday in Abuja that the new MoA was signed after a conciliatory meeting between representatives of the federal government and those of NARD.
Mr Ngige said Saturday’s meeting became necessary to amend the first MoA signed with the striking doctors.
He stated the irregularities in the payment of salaries of House Officers, adding that while some got double payments, a few had not been paid.
“In view of this situation, a five-man committee was set up to harmonise the list of affected officers and they have 72 hours to produce a valid list.
“The list will be submitted to the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) through the Federal Ministry of Health,” Mr Ngige said.
The minister noted that the issue of hazard allowance was not peculiar to members of NARD but that it cuts across the entire health system, Mr Ngige disclosed.
The Presidential Committee on Salaries (PCS) would meet with the national salaries, incomes and wages commission on April 12 to examine the hazard allowance issue.
The minister added that the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the Joint Health Sector Unions, NARD and other stakeholders would meet on April 14, 2021, with the PCS with their position papers on the issue.
Mr Ngige appealed to NARD to give the conciliation process a chance for industrial peace to prevail by calling off the strike.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has failed to speak on the poor state of health care system in the country. He is currently in the United Kingdom for a medical check up
