President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to ensure that members of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors who are on strike resume work immediately.
The directive was disclosed by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, during a press briefing on Monday in Abuja, following the total and indefinite strike declared by NARD on Saturday.
Speaking at the briefing, Salako said, “I would like to update Nigerians on the challenges around the ongoing strike action by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors. First, on behalf of myself and the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, and all the top management staff of the ministry, we would like to express our regrets and unconditional apology to Nigerians, especially those who needed to access health care in the last 48 hours, who could not do it as a result of the strike action by NARD.
“I want to use this opportunity to assure Nigerians that Mr President has expressly directed that we do everything possible and legitimate to ensure that the resident doctors are brought back to their duty posts as soon as possible.”
The minister explained that the government had been engaging the leadership of NARD to resolve the issues behind their industrial action.
Salako revealed that the striking doctors had presented 19 separate demands, which the ministry was addressing one after another.
He provided background on the dispute, recalling that a circular issued by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) in July had caused division among health sector workers.
According to him, some groups in the health sector protested against the contents of the circular, while others welcomed it.
The ministry, he said, sought a review because it did not accommodate the interests of all health professionals.
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