.COAS says military ready to absorb doctors returning from overseas
Federal Government, yesterday, held a closed-door meeting with executives of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to avert a proposed nationwide protest and picketing of the Federal Ministry of Health and other government institutions.
Though outcome of the meeting was sketchy, NARD President, Innocent Orji, told The Guardian that Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr Salma Anas-Kolo, led government’s team during the talks.
He said another meeting with leadership of the National Assembly was in view, adding that details of both would me disclosed late yesterday night.
NARD had, on Saturday evening, threatened to embark on daily peaceful protests and picketing of the Federal Ministry of Health, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation and all federal and state tertiary health institutions nationwide, with effect from 10:00 a.m., today.
The planned action followed a circular by Federal Ministry of Health, directing the management of federal tertiary hospitals to commence enforcement of a ‘no work no pay’ policy against the striking doctors.
In a letter, titled ‘Notice of Nationwide Mass Protest and Picketing by NARD’, the doctors said the action became necessary to press home their demands, which allegedly, had been largely neglected by government.
They said they were pained that rather than make genuine efforts to resolve issues that led to the industrial action, despite their repeated ultimatums, Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Health, had chosen to demonise doctors.
NARD said government still had time to address the issues at stake before today.
The letter reads in part: “We have resolved that it is time the whole world hears our side of the story – the decay and corruption in the health sector, as well as the neglect public health institutions have suffered all these years that led to repeated industrial actions.”
Earlier, yesterday, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Kachollom Daju, insisted the ‘no work no pay’ policy would be applied to NARD.
Daju, who disclosed this in Abuja, described the policy as international best practice, which government will not jettison in resolving its industrial dispute with NARD.
Pledging that outstanding issues would be sorted out as soon as ministers are appointed, Kachollom said Federal Government was still appealing to the doctors to shelve their planned action and embrace peaceful resolution.
“All the issues cannot be resolved immediately because they have financial implications. The ministers still have to be in place for the National Executive Council to function. As of now, the council is not in place. Which body is going to give necessary approvals?” she asked.
Meanwhile, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has assured Nigerian doctors abroad willing to return to the country that the Nigerian Army is ready to absorb them into its hospitals.
Lagbaja gave the assurance while receiving the chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and top management team of the commission at Army Headquarters, Abuja.
The COAS said the army will collaborate fully with NiDCOM’s advocacy of bringing back home the best brains from the Diaspora to help develop various sectors in the country.
He said having been in the Diaspora, he noticed that Nigeria parades the best doctors in the UK, U.S., Canada and South Africa, stressing that the army, under his command, will be willing to employ them if they return home.
