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FG, NMA meet over Residents Doctors’ strike

A delegation of the Federal Government, on Tuesday evening, met with the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), as part of the ongoing efforts to end the over two weeks old strike embarked upon by the Nigerian Association of Residents Doctors (NARD).

The meeting was held at the office of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige.

Sources at the meeting said that notwithstanding that the matter was already before the National Industrial Court (NIC) which has postponed the hearing to September 15, 2021, the minister has continued making contacts with all relevant stakeholders to end the doctors’ strike.

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The sources said at the meeting were National President of the NMA, Prof. Innocent Uja as well as Secretary-General of the body, Dr. Philips Ekpe.

According to the source, “This is the first time Prof. Uja would be attending such a meeting convened at the Ministry.”

It remains to be seen whether Prof. Uja, who leads the NMA, as the umbrella body of all medical doctors in Nigeria, would thaw the ice and convince his junior colleagues in NARD, whom the Federal Government said it has done everything to meet their demands and avert the strike.

Recall that Sen. Ngige was said to have reported Prof. Uja at the meeting of the Medical Elders Forum, last week, accusing him of not providing leadership to the junior doctors, which he (Dr. Ngige) claimed, was responsible for the incessant strikes by NARD, despite effort of the Federal Government.

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The Minister had also claimed that the demands of the Resident Doctors were substantially met.

It was gathered that the Minister had earlier in the day held similar meeting with the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, and other relevant stakeholders in both Ministries, including Dr. Peter Tarfa and Abdulaziz Abdullahi, Permanent Secretaries Ministry of Labour and Employment as well as Health, respectively.

The outcome of the Dr. Ngige-led Federal Government delegation with NMA was unclear as at time of filing this report.

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