SAN FRANCISCO, June 10, (THEWILL) – The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has met with the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) over its planned industrial action from June 15.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, Lanre Lasisi, the speaker held a meeting with the association and officials of the Federal Ministry of Health at the National Assembly to resolve all pending issues.
At the end of the three-hour meeting, Gbajabiamila said the leadership of the House would not fold its arms while resident doctors embark on strike at this time of COVID-19 pandemic.
THEWILL recalls that the union had issued an ultimatum to embark on strike next week Monday following what it said was government’s inability to fulfil certain obligations as agreed in a memorandum of understanding.
The Speaker, however, begged the union to “tarry a while as government was working assiduously to meet their entitlements, but noted that the House could not intervene in the issue of doctors in Kaduna State as it is not under its jurisdiction.
“As a House, we’ll keep taking steps to avoid strikes. This meeting will give us the opportunity to holistically address the issues at stake.
“Let us agree on one thing: that at this time, we can’t afford to allow our doctors go on strike. Let us agree that their welfare is a priority,” he said.
According to him, the issues of hazard allowance was captured in the supplementary budget before the House as he assured the resident doctors of the Federal Government’s commitment in resolving the issues raised.
On his part, NERD President, Dr Sokomba Aliyu said he would get back to the national executive of the association and relate the Speaker’s intervention to them.
—
