The Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) says it cannot guarantee industrial harmony after a scheduled meeting on June 2. Ugochukwu Eze, the NARD Publicity and Social Secretary, Kaduna State branch, made this known at a news conference, on Thursday in Kaduna.“we scheduled a meeting for June 2, while warning that we cannot guarantee industrial harmony.
“It may also interest you all that an extraordinary National Executive Council meeting of NARD is scheduled to hold on the 2nd of June, 2018.
“NARD leadership may not be able to guarantee continuous industrial harmony should our legitimate agitations be ignored by the government,” the spokesman said.
Mr. Eze recalled that NARD had on March 27 held an extraordinary National Executive Council meeting where issues pertaining to the unjust sack of its members in JUTH were extensively discussed.
“At the end of the meeting, a 30 days ultimatum was issued starting from the 2nd of April, 2018, which elapsed on the 2nd of May, 2018.
“Twelve days after the expiration of the ultimatum, at the Ordinary General Meeting held in ABUTH Zaria from 5th-11th May 2018, the ultimatum was extended by 21 days to allow the government to affect recall of all sacked resident doctors in JUTH.
“Also to meet up with all outstanding agreement contained in our 6th September 2017, Memorandum of Terms of Settlement. This ultimatum ends tomorrow, 31st May, 2018,’’ he said.
Mr Eze explained that the association had exhausted all labor engagement requirements to help solve the problem in JUTH through extensive advocacy channels.
“It may also interest the general public to know that the members of Joint Health Sector Workers Union (JOHESU) have been on strike for the past 44 days.
“Healthcare in the country has been anchored upon the shoulders of resident doctors, mainly (NARD), being the largest single body of doctors in Nigeria,” he said.
Mr Eze appealed to government and the public to impress on the government to reciprocate their goodwill and solve their problem.
The residency training programme is a programme where Specialist Doctors are trained to guarantee availability of Specialist Health Services in the country an
d minimize brain drain.
Source: Premiumtimes
