FG urges NARD to shelve strike

• Reconvenes conciliation meeting with resident doctors

The Federal Government has urged the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to shelve its planned strike action billed to commence on Monday, September 7,2020.

The appeal was contained in a statement by the Hon. Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Dr Chris Ngige, dated September 6, 2020 and signed by the Deputy Director/Head of Press, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Charles Akpan.

Senator Ngige, himself a medical doctor, implored NARD to embrace dialogue in the resolution of their outstanding issues with the Federal Government.

He explained that even with the lean resources available due to the COVID-19 effects on oil output and price, resulting in low revenue, the Federal Government had addressed majority of their demands, including Special Hazard and Inducement Allowances, and Group Life Insurance.

The labour minister reminded the resident doctors that by the labour laws and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions, when issues are being conciliated, all parties are enjoined not to employ arm-twisting methods to intimidate or foist state of helplessness on the other party, in this case, their employers, the Federal Ministry of Health.

He further recalled that “there is a pending case in the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), instituted by two Civil Society groups against NARD , Honourable Minister of Health, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment.”

Consequently, Ngige advised the resident doctors to respect the Country’s Laws and withdraw the ultimatum issued to their members to down tools with effect from 8.00 am Monday, September 7, 2020.”

Quoting from the statement, “The attention of the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment Sen. (Dr.) Chris N. Ngige, OON has been drawn to the proposed strike action by the members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) which was conveyed in a trade dispute note by the Association to the Honourable Minister.

“Recall that most of the issues listed in the demands are issues that have been under Conciliation since May, 2020 that resulted in their strike in June, 2019.

“The NARD leadership in three conciliatory meetings with the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) leadership in attendance can attest that out of the eight (8) demands listed after their Bauchi NEC meeting, the Federal Government via the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) and Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning (FMoFB&NP) has already addressed about six of the demands comprehensively and satisfactorily.

“Even with the lean resources available due to the COVID-19 effect on oil output and price resulting in low Revenue, the Federal Government has addressed the COVID-19 Special Hazard and Inducement Allowances for Medical and Health Workers to the extent that as of today, N20 billion has been expended by the FMoH and FMoF&NP on this allowance for April, May and June, 2020 with very little grey areas of outstanding payments to some Health Workers for June 2020.”

The statement noted that “the issue of Group Life Insurance for Medical and Health Workers was also dealt with fully with the Office of the Head of Service passing the records to both NARD and FMoH, to pass on to their medical doctors and other health workers to make appropriate claims when necessary, with the details of the 13 Leading Insurance companies and brokers, an exercise that cost the Federal Government N9.3 billion as premium to run from the COVID-19 period of March 2020 to March 2021.”

The life insurance, according to the statement, “is not only for Health professionals and workers, but prepared also for all federal civil servants and public servants in federal organisations that are treasury funded.”

The Minister said the Federal Government also appropriated the sum of N4 billion from the Special Intervention COVID-19 N500 billion 2020 Appropriation, for funding of Medical Residency Training and with intent to do same in the ongoing 2021 Budget to be submitted to NASS for consideration. He added that the N4 Billion has been processed for payment.

“Other issues like the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital right between NARD and the authorities were addressed while old issues not related to the COVID-19 period and issues of State Governments not addressing the Consequential Minimum Wage Adjustments, and low patronage of Residency programme are work in progress.”

In the case before the National Industrial Court, the statement explained: “The Groups -Citizens Advocacy for Social Rights (CASER) and Association of Women in Trading and Agriculture (AWITA) are asking for an interlocutory injunction against further strike actions by NARD and all parties have appeared and exchanged court processes.

“NARD for these two reasons should respect the Country’s Laws and withdraw the ultimatum issued for their members to down tools with effect from 8.00 am Monday, September 7, 2020.”

Meanwhile the Minister used this medium to reconvene the ongoing conciliation meeting between NARD, the Federal Ministry of Health and Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning.

The meeting has been slated for 12.00 noon on Wednesday, September 9, 2020, at the Conference Room of the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment Abuja with the Nigerian Medical Association expected to be in attendance.