The National Industrial Court has stood down ruling on the ongoing strike action by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors.
Having refused to adjourn the matter or hear the preliminary objection by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), the National Industrial Court on Friday ordered hearing of the federal government’s application which sought for an order to compel the doctors to call off their industrial action which began on August.
Lawyer for the Federal Ministry of Health and the federal government, Tochukwu Maduka, SAN, mentioned before Justice B.A. Alkali that he had a pending motion on notice dated August 18 which wants a “an order of interlocutory injunction to compel the defendant(NARD) across the Federation to suspend the industrial action.”
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He argued that doctors who provide essential services cannot go on industrial action.
He urge the court to grant his application .
But NARD’s lawyer, Chief Robinson Ariyo objected adding that he had filed a counter affidavit on August 31, opposing the said application.
He said it will be unfair to force doctors who treat hundreds of Nigerians, back to work without proper settlement of the issues they raised.
He urged the court to refuse FG’s application and compel them to negotiate with NARD.