THE Presidency on Friday asked striking doctors under the aegis of Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to end their over one-month old strike and return to the negotiating table to resolve the differences.
In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, quoted the President Buhari to have also pleaded with other health workers who are currently warming up for similar actions to reconsider their positions, saying the nation needs them now more than ever before.
According to the statement, the President made the plea while receiving the leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) who paid him a visit at the Presidential Villa where he also noted that no matter how long negotiations may take, it is still the best way to resolve crisis.
“The lives of citizens that could be lost or damaged when doctors withdraw services, are precious enough to be worth opting for peaceful resolution of differences,” the statement quoted the president to have remarked, as he assured that all outstanding benefits owed medical doctors will be cleared, but only after necessary verification must have been carried out.
While noting that embarking on strike at a critical health period for the country and citizens was not a good option, Shehu quoted the President to have stated:
“Protecting our citizens is not to be left to government alone, but taken as a collective responsibility, in which especially medical professionals play a critical role. Let me speak directly to the striking doctors. Embarking on industrial action at this time when Nigerians need you most is not the best action to take, no matter the grievances.
“This Administration has a good track record of paying all debts owed to government workers, pensioners and contractors and we have even revisited debts left by past administrations, once due verification is done. Debts genuinely owed health workers will be settled.
“I learnt that some of the 12-point demands in the ongoing strike were already addressed. Though the review of a new hazard allowance has not been fully negotiated because of the sharp and deep division within the ranks of the striking doctors.”
The statement, among other things, highlighted President’s commendation of the positive role the NMA has been playing “as the apex professional medical association in Nigeria, especially with regard to the ongoing industrial action… This is a befitting role for the NMA, as a mature organisation, led by responsible members with long experience.
“I am proud also to learn of various feats that have been achieved in our hospitals, like the separation of conjoined twins and also the valiant efforts of our health personnel in handling the COVID-19 pandemic, much of which has earned us recognition at home and abroad, and the recent appointment of one of your colleagues as Assistant Director General of the World Health Organisation. We again warmly congratulate Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu for his elevation.”
The NMA President, who is also the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State, Prof Innocent A. Ujah, thanked President Buhari for appointing NMA members into strategic positions in government, assent to the Medical Residency Act and immunisation coverage.
Prof Ujah said the NMA was concerned about the doctors’ strike, and had been doing its best to alleviate the suffering of patients across the country, while appealing for an urgent resolution. He assured the President of the continuous support of members of the association to improve health in the country.
While thanking the President for the takeoff grant for the federal universities of health sciences in Otukpo, Azare, Bauchi State, and Ila Orangun, Osun State, also suggested an appropriate funding model for the new institutions.
