The strike will last until the federal and state governments meet our demands – NARD

The National Association of Resident Doctors has stated the strike will last until the federal and state governments meet our demands.

NARD disclosed its position in a communiqué issued at the end of a virtual extraordinary National Executive Council, meeting, signed by Dr. Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi, its President, on Thursday in Abuja.

The association said that the National Executive Council had collectively voted that the ongoing strike that started on April 1, would continue.

“The strike will last until the federal and state governments meet our demands.

“We want to use this medium to reiterate our commitment to the smooth running of all tertiary institutions in the country, and the provision of specialized healthcare to all Nigerians.

“However, we need to first of all care for our own health and welfare in order to give standard care to our patients, which is in line with the physician’s oath,” the communiqué reads.

NARD said that the National Executive Council had seen that despite the National Officers Committee, urging the Federal Government to meet the demands of the association in order to prevent the strike, the federal government did not bulge.

It noted that NARD had given two months ultimatum before going on the strike when it became apparent that the Ministry of Health was not interested in any form of settlement to avert the industrial action.

It expressed disappointment over the way and manner the government was passing “spurious” information to the public.

The resident doctors also faulted the government for not holding a reconciliatory meeting at the expiration of the ultimatum on March 31.

They said, “`Without prejudice to labor laws and other extant laws of the land, the industrial action had already begun before the MOA was signed, and as such, not tenable.”