Nigeria’s Minister for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire has called on the members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to call off their strike action and return to work.
According to him, the striking doctors should believe the promises made so far by the Buhari-led government as this is the most sincere and serious government Nigeria has even had.
Speaking when he appeared on Channels TV Friday morning, June 19, Ehanire said
“We have made it clear to them (doctors) that this government is the most sincere and serious government this country has ever had. His (Buhari) word is his bond.
“This government has a record of being sympathetic to people, of meeting its obligations and keeping to its promises.”
He recalled that the present government paid the Nigerian Airways pension arrears as well as kept to other promises it made to Nigerians. He called on the striking doctors to reconsider their action for the interest of the country, assuring them that the government will keep to its end of the bargain.
“This government does things differently. This is a government that says its word and keeps to its words. We would not do anything to hurt you. We work in your (doctors) interest.
“We are going through a very difficult time with other countries and this is quite clearly not the time to add more to our problems by deciding to go on strike. I am worried that we are probably the first and only country where doctors have decided to go on strike.” he said
Members of the National Association of Resident Doctors began a nationwide strike on Monday, June 15 over the failure of the government to pay them their COVID-19 allowances among other issues.
Not long after the programme, the Federal Government disbursed the hazard and inducement allowances worth about N4.5 billion to 31 teaching hospitals and federal medical centres.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, disclosed this after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Friday.
The meeting was necessitated by the ongoing strike by resident doctors.
Also at the meeting were: the Health Minister, Dr. Osagie Ehanire and the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo.
