The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, on Monday, ordered the striking doctors, under the aegis of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, to resume duty pending the hearing and determination of motion on notice.
Justice John Targema, in a ruling, said the striking members of NARD and the Federal Government should suspend actions and maintain status quo.
Targema said that he granted the application after careful consideration of the processes filed by the applicants.
Labour and Employment Minister, Chris Ngige, described the ruling as a welcome development, stating that it would not prevent the Ministries of Health, Finance and Budget Office from implementing the agreements contained in the Memorandum of Understanding.
The MOU was reached at the last meeting with the Nigerian Medical Association and affiliate associations with timelines affixed to them.
The NMA led three doctors associations to the negotiation on August 20.
NAN reports that Justice Targema, in the ruling said, “Having looked especially on the affidavit of extreme urgency, the grounds of the application, the affidavit in support of same and arguments of counsel for the applicant. I also weighed the submissions and arguments of counsel on the law as it stands on this application.
”It is, hereby, ordered that claimant/applicant and the defendant/respondent suspend all forms of hostilities forthwith pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”
He ordered that hearing notice be issued, with other processes, including the originating summons, served on the respondent and proof of service kept in the case file before the next adjourned date.
Targema, in addition, adjourned the matter until September 15 for hearing of the motion on notice and/ or any other pending application on its merit.
The Ministry of Health and the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Labour, had approached the court to seek for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining members of NARD across the country from continuing with the industrial action.
