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  • News - North Central - FCT
  • Updated: April 14, 2021

Gbajabiamila Expresses Optimism Over Government Meeting Doctors' Demands

Gbajabiamila Expresses Optimism Over Government Meeting Doct

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila has expressed optimism that the demands of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) would be met in four weeks’ time.

He expressed optimism when he visited the HARD Headquarters in Abuja, the Nigeria capital on Tuesday.

On April 12, the NARD President, Dr. Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi, had asked the Federal Government to honour its agreement with the union, threatening that should the government fail to honour the agreement in the next four weeks, they would be forced to declare another indefinite nationwide action.

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 “We have been given a leap of faith to believe in the system and we hope and pray that the system does not fail us,” Okhuaihesuyi said while appearing on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’.

However, Gbajabiamila, after listening to their demands, said that the government is doing all within its power to ensure the doctors do not down their tools.

“We have made some progress, headway. We have been talking, this is not the first. The Chairman of the Health Committee is here and he has been briefing us,” the Speaker said.

He then explained that the Federal Government appreciated the efforts of the doctors in saving lives and the importance of their profession. He added that the government is doing everything possible to avert another industrial action by the Union.

Gbajabiamila said, “That has led to the suspension of the strike for four weeks. I believe that before the four weeks is up, we will be able to cement the deal.

“There is a Memorandum of Action signed between the Resident Doctors and the Government. We will make sure that is followed as best as we can. You understand the importance of these guys, we can’t afford to let them lay down their tools.”

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On his part, the union president told the Speaker that he is confident that their demand will be met within the 4-week ultimatum given before they embark on another strike.

He said, “With the Honourable Speaker coming to the Secretariat, we have been able to achieve some more commitments in response to why we called off the strike.

“As it stands, most of the House Officers are getting paid their salaries. The ones left are those that have some bank failures and are being treated on as we speak.”

The resident doctors commenced an indefinite strike on April 1 following a meeting with the government delegation on March 31 which ended in deadlock.

The strike subsequently crippled activities in tertiary hospitals across the country and left many patients and their relatives stranded.

 

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