Following the announced commencement of an indefinite strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) resident doctors on Monday, a former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has said that Nigeria cannot afford an industrial strike amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
NAIJARAY had earlier reported that following the expiration of its notice, NARD had commenced a nationwide strike.
NARD President, Dr. Aliyu Sokomba, had warned that the doctors would embark on an industrial action if the Federal Government failed to meet its demands.
In a circular Sunday night, the body ordered its members nationwide to down tools.
The decision was consequent upon the 14 days ultimatum “served the government for indefinite strike action, in accordance with the resolution of the Ordinary General Meeting of the Association on May 29”.
NARD told all resident doctors, medical officers below the rank of Principal Medical Officer and House Officers across all the Federal and State hospitals in Nigeria, to embark “on a total and indefinite strike”.
The strike took effect 12:01 am on Monday, June 15 2020.
Reacting, Atiku in a tweet on his official Twitter page on Monday, called on relevant government agencies to urgently sit down with the leadership of NARD and iron out outstanding issues to save citizens already overwhelmed by the current health emergency situation.
He said: “Nigeria cannot afford an industrial strike by medical doctors or indeed any others in this season of the COVID19 pandemic.
“The relevant government agencies should urgently sit down with the leadership of NARD and iron out outstanding issues to save citizens already overwhelmed by the current health emergency situation.”
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