Doctors’ strike: Reps to invite Zainab Ahmed next week, says Gbaja

Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house of representatives, says the lower chamber will invite Zainab Ahmed, minister of finance, budget and national planning, to address some of the issues raised by resident doctors.

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), on Saturday, suspended the strike it started on April 1, following a memorandum of action signed with the federal government.

The resident doctors had embarked on a strike over salary arrears, owed allowances, unfavourable working conditions, among other issues.

Speaking during a meeting with the executive members of NARD on Tuesday, Gbajabiamila said the minister would be invited to discuss how to accommodate some of the financial matters regarding the doctors in the supplementary budget.

He noted that “even the constitution talks about essential services, but there’s nothing as essential a service than that which seeks to save and protect lives”.

“We’ll monitor issues being processed, the IPPIS, training fund, hazard allowances which the house championed at the peak of the COVID-19 crisis,” he said.

“All the issues will be addressed. We’re looking to come to a reasonable and acceptable hazard allowance, as well as the training fund, which when the supplementary budget is introduced, we hope and expect to justify why this should be accommodated.

“We will do everything we need to do to see how we can capture that. We are inviting the finance minister next week so that we can talk and see how, as best as we can, to accommodate all these issues and cement the memorandum of action.”

The speaker said the leadership of the lower chamber held the meeting at NARD secretariat to show appreciation to the doctors for suspending the strike.

“The decision to visit you is a clear message that we are with you because the role of doctors cannot be understated, and to thank you for calling off the strike because of what we have done,” he said.

“We are here to encourage and thank you for calling off the strike and give you assurances that the house will be there with you, talking with the executive on what needs to be done.”

In his remarks, Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi, president of NARD, expressed appreciation for the visit.

He also thanked the house for its past intervention to resolve previous industrial actions embarked upon by the association.