Edge's News: National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and the Federal Government failed to reach an agreement...Nigeria

Members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) embarked on strike on August 2 to protest repeated failure by the federal government to fulfil agreements reached with the association.

After two days of meeting, members of the House of Representatives could not persuade the striking members of the National Association of Residents Doctors (NARD) to call off their ongoing strike.

The meeting was organised by the House Committee on Health on August 9 and 10 to discuss the issues leading to the strike, make the doctors return to work and find a lasting solution to incessant industrial actions in the sector.

But after exhaustive deliberations, the doctors, who commenced the industrial action on August 2, said they would not return to work because nothing was achieved by the parley. The meeting was presided over by the Chairman of the Committee on Health, Tanko Sununu (APC, Kebbi).

In attendance were representatives of the executive arm of government, namely the Minister of Health (State), Olorunimbe Mamora, Permanent Secretary Office of Head of Service, Emmanuel Meribole, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Finance (Special duties), Aliu Shinkafi and others.

The NARD team was led by its president, Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi, while the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) was represented by its Secretary-General, Philip Ekpe.

At the meeting, four major issues were discussed, namely the training funds for the resident doctors, salary shortfall from 2014 to 2016, fate of doctors employed without due process and removal of resident and NYSC doctors from scheme of service.

N5.42 billion training fund

The committee resolved that the arrears of the resident training fund should be paid.

The Director-General of Budget Office, Ben Akabueze, assured that the outstanding fund for 2020 and that of 2021 will be paid to the doctors.

Mr Shinkafi said the department would be willing to pay if approval was given.

"If the money is provided in the budget, my department is the implementing department, if the money is there in the budget and we are asked to pay, we will pay. Even if it is not there, we have PSEH where adjustments are supposed to be sources. It depends on the resolution reached from these meetings, we will pay," he said.

Reacting to the resolution, Mr Okhuaihesuyi said the union was happy with the resolution.

On the 2014-2016 salary shortfall, Mr Mamora said the matter was still in court.

He said the government was in court to challenge the skipping of work by medical personnel. "Some time ago that we were here, the evidence that the matter was still in court was presented, and the matter was set aside. I am not aware that the status has changed.

"I had a personal discussion with the Minister of Finance, Budget and Planning, whose position was that as long as a matter--which to her knowledge was in court then -- she said she would not be in a position to do anything," Mr Mamora stated.

Mr Sununu then ruled that the House would not be able to discuss the matter if it was in court. He directed that the Ministry of Health should provide evidence of the existence of a court case