FG, resident doctors sign MOA to avert indefinite strike

TRACKING____The Federal Government and the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) have signed a Memorandum of Action (MOA) to halt the planned nationwide strike of the doctors due to begin Thursday, April 1.

The MOA was signed at midnight on Wednesday following a marathon meeting between the federal government and the leadership of NARD at the office of Chris Ngige, minister of Labour and Employment.

The meeting deliberated on the issues raised by the doctors in their Notice of Trade Dispute including the non-payment of salaries of some house officers, non-recruitment of house officers, abolishment of the bench fees for doctors undergoing training in other hospitals, non-payment of National Minimum Wage and hazard allowances.

The minister, who briefed journalists on the outcome, assured that all the items written in the MOA will be implemented.

“Twelve hours is a lot of time. Everybody will be working. Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) will be working. And hopefully, by tomorrow, you will experience the payment as agreed here for the second category of doctors (an overflow of the MDCN quota). We hope it must happen tomorrow and continue.

“So, by the time the chairman of the CMDs comes up with his final list and harmonise it with MDCN, we won’t have the issue anymore over this payment or whether some doctors have not been paid, ” Ngige said.

Ngige further explained that timelines have been put on other issues raised by the doctors, saying it’s the reason why they were going to reconvene in a month’s time to look at the assignments given, to know who performed and who has not performed.

He said, “And with this MOA, we hope you get to your members to let them understand better that government has moved proactively to address most of the issues ahead of your coming.”

According to the Minister, in labour parlance, what the government side has done means that they have arrested the impending industrial dispute of the doctors and the issues in contention, being addressed.

“We are happy that you understand. So, I give you an assurance that most of the things written here will be done. We will assist the Federal Ministry of Health (FMH), Finance Ministry and Office of Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) to make sure that they keep to their own side of the bargain.

“The MOA says that you will talk to your people and we hope that when you come to collect your own copy tomorrow, you can tell the nation that you people are not strike mongers and that you are happy with the decisions taken so far.”

Other members of the government delegation at the meeting include the permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health, Abdulaziz Mashi, his Labour and Employment counterpart, Peter Yerima Tarfa, representatives of the OAGF, MDCN and the National Salaries, Wages and Incomes Commission.