Reps’ Speaker, Gbajabiamila, Seeks To Halt Doctors’ Strike

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, made efforts on Tuesday to halt the planned industrial action by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) over welfare matters.

The threat by the doctors had sent fears across the country amid the raging COVID-19 pandemic.

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They had issued a notice to commence the strike on Monday, next week.

The speaker had called a meeting of key stakeholders on Tuesday at the National Assembly to seek ways to prevent the strike from taking place.

Among those at the meeting were the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire; Minister of State Health, Senator Olorumibe Mamora; Director-General, Budget Office of the Federation, Ben Akabueze; President of NARD, Dr Sokomba Aliyu; and the Secretary-General of Nigeria Medical Association, Dr Ekpe Philips.

The issues raised by the doctors included “outstanding payments on hazard allowance, arbitrary disengagement of 23 doctors at the University of Jos Teaching Hospital, non-provision of life insurance despite the death of some doctors from COVID-19, non-provision of personal protective equipment (PPEs), reduction of doctors’ salary by the Kaduna State Government, doctors’ residency training, among others.”

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The speaker appealed to the doctors to calm down while the House would find ways to engage the Federal Government to ensure that the doctors’ demands were addressed.

He disclosed that such measures would include passing laws to accommodate the regular payment of hazard allowance to doctors.

He spoke more, “As a House, we will 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 added that the hazard allowance of the doctors was already accommodated in the revised 2020 budget awaiting passage by the National Assembly.

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Gbajabiamila assured the doctors that the funds would be released as soon as work was concluded on the budget.

Appealing to them further, he said, “I want to appeal to the President of NARD and the association itself. My appeal is on humanitarian basis. You are dealing with lives, so I appeal to you to suspend the strike. I am making this appeal because of your professional calling. You are dealing with lives.

“I want you to understand that government is doing its best to meet your entitlement.”

However, the NARD President, Aliiyu, did not make any promises at the meeting that his members would call off the planned strike.

He merely said that he would reach out to other national officers of the association and report back to Gbajabiamila.

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