NARD Strike: FG Drags Resident Doctors To Court Over Industrial Action In Nigeria

The Federal Government has dragged the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) before the National Industrial Court over the strike embarked upon by the health workers.

KanyiDaily recalls that the resident doctors in Nigeria had embarked on strike since on August 2, over irregular payment of salaries, hazard allowances among other issues.

Efforts by the house of representatives to reach a new agreement between the federal government and NARD ended in a deadlock on Tuesday — despite a meeting that lasted six hours.

FG Drags NARD Resident Doctors To Court

In a letter addressed to NARD and the Federal Ministry of Health on Friday, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige disclosed the trade dispute between the government and the resident Doctors has been handed over to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria for adjudication.

The minister, who had accused the doctors of trying to “play God”, said most of the demands by the resident doctors have been met, but efforts to get them to call off the strike had “failed”.

“Whereas trade dispute has arisen and now exists between NARD and the Federal Ministry of Health/Federal Government and whereas efforts to promote settlement through conciliation were ongoing but had now failed,” the statement reads.

“Considering the facts that members of NARD who are classified as essential services workers/employees had embarked on strike on Aug. 2, over the issues under conciliation.

”Contrary to the provisions of Section 18 of the Trade Disputes Act CAP T8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004, after attending a Conciliation and Agreement Review meeting on July 22.

”Further considering that the Federal Ministry of Health claims to have and produced evidence to have met most of their demands based on the various Memorandum of Action reached during past conciliations, especially that of July 22.

“Now therefore, I , Sen. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 17 of the Trades Disputes Act , CAP T8 laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

“‘I, hereby refer the matter for consideration, and the issues in dispute to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria for adjudication.”

KanyiDaily recalls Chris Ngige had advised resident doctors in the country to be humble and carry themselves with dignity, rather than ‘play God or compete with God’.