TheCable

The federal government has changed its stance on the termination of residency programme at its hospitals, effectively preventing the sack of over 16,000 resident doctors earlier announced on August 14.

Dan Nwomeh, media aide to minister of health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, confirmed the suspension of the banned residency training programme to TheCable on Friday.

The suspension takes effect from Thursday, August 28.

Reinstating the sacked doctors was one of the demands of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) who called off its 55-day-old strike on August 24.

“Minister of health announces lifting of suspension of Residency Training Programme in all federal hospitals, effective yesterday,” Dan Nwomeh said.

” The federal government has also reinstated all resident doctors that were disengaged, effective the same yesterday.

“Chief medical directors and medical directors of the training centres have been directed to issue letters of reinstatement to the residents to enable them resume work immediately.”