The Federal Government has taken a step to stop the threat by resident doctors in Nigeria to embark on an industrial action.
Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole told journalists in Abuja on Thursday that the government will look into the grievances of the doctors.
This came following a 21-day ultimatum given to the Federal Government by the National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria, NARD, to meet their demands or risk paralysing the health sector nationwide.
Adewole noted that the FG is willing to discuss with doctors with a view to averting the strike. He assured Nigerians that there will not be an industrial action by the resident doctors.
The Minister confirmed that the government had received the ultimatum served on the ministry by the association and that a meeting will hold at his office next Monday on the issues raised in the letter.
“We are going to discuss the requests and demands. The Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, has stepped-in now and there is going to be a meeting in my office by Monday, April 11.
“It is also important to highlight the fact that I happened to be a former president of the association; it is my former constituency.
“We (government and NARD) will discuss and ensure that there will be no strike,” the Minister said.
President of NARD, Dr Muhammad Askira, disclosed that they want payment of members’ salaries till date, appropriate placement of members in both states and federal tertiary hospitals across the nation.
He also asked the government to reverse the sacking of NARD members in some hospitals as well as appropriate funding of residency training programme.
