Strike call off: Nigerian Government signs fresh agreement with Doctors
Nigerian Government on Saturday signed a Memorandum of Action (MoA) with striking Medical Doctors to end the strike, and this will be the second memorandum within two weeks, with the first signed on March31.
Penpushing reports that Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors(NARD) on April 1 commenced a nationwide strike to demand for improved welfare packages, while the President, Dr Okhuaihesuyi Uyilawa after the end of Saturday meeting, promised to present the latest agreement before members with a view to calling off the strike..
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, however, explained that the new Memorandum of Action (MoA) was signed after a conciliatory meeting between representatives of the two parties.
Penpushing further reports that, Ngige stated that the Saturday’s meeting became necessary to amend the first Memorandum of Action( MoA) signed with the striking doctors, pointing out that there were irregularities in the payment of salaries of house officers, adding that while some got double payments, a few had not been paid.
“In view of this situation, a five-man committee was set up to harmonise the list of affected officers and they have 72 hours to produce a valid list.The list will be submitted to the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System through the Federal Ministry of Health,’’ Ngige said.
The Minister added that health institutions affected by the non-payment of salary shortfalls between 2014 and 2016 and arrears arising from the consequential adjustment on the National Minimum Wage, had been directed to forward their personnel strength,stressing that this is to enable government to accommodate this in the 2021 supplementary budget.
Penpushing also reports that, Ngige observed that the issue of Hazard Allowance was not peculiar to the Doctors explaining that it cut across the entire health system, adding that the Presidential Committee on Salaries (PCS) would meet with the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission on April 12 to examine the Hazard Allowance issue.
The minister said the Nigeria Medical Association(NMA), the Joint Health Sector Unions, Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors(NARD) and other ‘stakeholders’ would meet on April 14, 2021 with the Presidential Committee on Salaries (PCS) with their position papers on the issue.
Penpushing reports that, he appealed to Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors( NARD) to give the conciliation process a chance for industrial peace to prevail by calling off the strike.
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