The Federal Government has taken a decisive step to end the strike action embarked upon by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), releasing N4.5 billion to 31 Federal Teaching and Medical Centres across the country.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, disclosed this in Abuja yesterday 19th June, 2020 when he alongside the Health Minister, Dr Osagie Ehanire, briefed State House correspondents at the end of a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.
Dr Chris stated:
“This morning, before we went to see Mr. President, the Ministry of Finance reported that they have paid the allowances for hazard and inducement to 31 teaching and Federal Medical Centres and specialist hospitals of the federal government service as at 3.00 am this morning.
“And they have expended close to N4.5 billion in the payment because we are paying them the arrears of April and May. The payment for June will also be done immediately these are sorted out.
“The issue of health is on the concurrent list, so the Federal Government will do its own and the state governments will be expected to do their own. Some of their grievances border on what they feel the state governments have not done,” he said.
Also Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire stated while Speaking to state house correspondents at the press briefing, that the President, Muhammadu Buhari was not happy about the decision NARD took amidst the coronavirus pandemic and that the Federal Government are hopeful that the payment of the striking doctors’ would put an end to the protest.
Dr. Osagie Stated:
“We hope that there is a solution in sight. What we have done is to brief the president who, as we all know, has the final responsibility for everything that goes on in government.
“Those of us who are Ministers administer our ministries and have to report to him periodically. In this particular case, it has been important to report to him how things have been because of the strike action of resident doctors.
“We have to report to him the implications and the possible consequences of such a strike action,” he said.
“Of course, the president is not happy that it has come this way and we all hope that it would be resolved after all the demands that were made have been resolved.
“The Minister of Labour has listed those demands and how all of them have been fulfilled except those of them which are not within our ambit,” he said.
(C) Control TV 2020.
