…as govt threatens sanction
Tuesday’s meeting between the Federal Government and the striking National Association of Resident Doctors ended in a deadlock.
At the end of their over six hours meeting, Minister of Health, Dr. Ehanire Osagie, said his ministry would issue a directive to all Medical Directors in the country to open a register by 7am and for those at work and those absent.
Medical doctors under the aegis of NARD, had on Monday embarked on a nationwide indefinite strike following the alleged failure of the Federal Government to meet its demands, including immediate implementation of the revised hazard allowance and payment of the COVID-19 inducement allowance as well as payment of all arrears owed its members in federal and states tertiary health institutions.
The minister, however, said yesterday that the government was ready to protect the lives of Nigerians and would not allow hospitals “to fallow.”
He expressed regret that Nigeria was the first country in the world where doctors went on strike during a global pandemic.
But NARD President, Dr. Aliyu Sokomba, said, “We would call off the strike within 24 hours when the government comes up with tangible outcome.”