There appears to be no immediate end in sight to the ongoing strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors as the peace meeting between them and the leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association, on Sunday, failed to address the logjam.
NARD is embroiled in industrial war with the Federal Government over the FG’s refusal to address the association’s demands.
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Oyo Reporters reports that the industrial action, which started on August 2, reached 43 days on Wednesday.
The PUNCH reports that the meeting was held barely 48 hours after the leadership of NMA met with the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Buhari was said to have urged the striking doctors to return to their duty posts while also appealing to others contemplating strikes to opt for settlement notwithstanding the duration of the negotiation.
NARD declared the strike action on July 30 at its National Executive Council meeting with the theme, ‘The Nigerian doctor, an endangered species: grappling with a pandemic, poor workplace infrastructure and security threats.’
It was gathered that the Sunday meeting was part of NMA’s efforts at fulfilling the pledge made to the President to intervene in the industrial action.
Sources at the meeting said, “They (NMA team) want the President of NARD to summon a meeting of the NEC to call off the strike.”
The PUNCH quoted the National President of NARD, Dr Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi, as saying, “They initiated a meeting and met with us this evening (Sunday). They want us to call off the strike. Nothing can be resolved in that manner; so, what are we saying? They (NMA) can go ahead and call off the strike.
“We will meet in court on Wednesday. Till then, we are not saying anything on the matter. We have also met with state governments as regards the resident doctors in their states and they have shown that they will like to follow the path of the Federal Government.”
