NARD meets Dogara, suspends proposed strike for a week

Members of the National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria, NARD have suspended their proposed plan to embark on an indefinite strike billed to commence today.

The doctors decision came after they met with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara who pleaded with them not to down tools in the interest of the citizenry.

The doctors resolved to suspend the proposed strike for one week to allow the House intervene in the issues and address lingering grievances between them and the executive.

Dogara noted that democracy is about the wellbeing of the citizens, and appealed further to the association to understand that the country is presently going through financial challenges.

The Speaker said, “It doesn’t matter what faith you profess, for instance, it is clearly stated in the Holy Bible that a labourer should be paid his wages even before his sweat dries. I believe that as a responsible government we know this. It is not like we dont don’t know. But as to matters, challenges facing you, these are not things that e had discussed before, i only heard through the briefings I was given.

“If it is possible for you to open his window for us in the immediate to call on relevant persons who are in charge of this, in conjuction, of course, with active participation of your good self, the relevant committees of the House, so we can sit at a table like this.

“I can sit down with the chairmen of committees, some members of the relevant committees, with your good selves and we will attempt to address these issues together and if doesn’t work, we can’t stop you from venting your anger and expressing your grievances.

I appeal to you to give us till next week when I hope we will be able to invite them and we will sit down together and iron out the issues.”
“Imagine a situation where all the resident doctors in Nigeria are on strike, what will happen to the people we represent ? Democracy’s first promise is life, thereafter liberty and the third promise is the pursuit of happiness. So for us, democracy itself is life.”

NARD President, Dr Mohammad Askira, informed the Speaker that members of the association have not been paid their salaries and other entitlements for several months.