NARD To Call Off Strike After Senate’s Intervention

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD)says it will call off its two weeks old strike.

National President of the Association, Doctor Emeka Orji stated this
after an executive session with Principal Officers of the red chamber in Abuja.

Doctor Orji told newsmen after the executive session that the meeting was fruitful added that their deliberations would be tabled before the National Executive Council, NEC of the Association stressing that the outcome of the NEC meeting would be positive.

“From our interaction with the President of the Senate and the practical demonstration he did before us today, we are very confident that there would be light at the end of the tunnel in the next 24 hours.

“Because of the intervention of the President of the Senate, who is the number three citizen and the assurance he has given us, our planned national protest has been cancelled while the decision on the ongoing strike would be taken as soon as we meet, he assured.

Speaking in the same vein, Senator Akpabio, thanked the medical doctors for honoring the Senate by calling off their planned national protest and also working towards calling off the strike.

According to him,” I thank you on behalf of the Senate for honoring us with your decision not only to cancel the planned public protest, but to also call off the strike in the interest of the suffering masses.

“Your demands are well noted and let me assure you that as soon as a Minister in charge of Health is appointed, the Senate will work with him or her to expeditiously address all your grievances. The President Bola Tinubu-led administration is Doctors friendly and that explains the large number of medical practitioners he has appointed into his cabinet.

“Strike by medical practitioners should not be allowed even for a day because of the impact on the polity and that is why the Senate is determined to ensure thorough interaction and consultation with relevant offices, amicable settlement of the impasse is reached,” he stated.

By James Itodo, Grace Namiji