The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige has appealed to the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to halt their industrial action as the Federal Government continues to negotiate with the union to end the dispute.
Ngige made the appeal during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, as the resident doctors strike enters Day 59.
He appealed to NARD to reconsider their position, get back to work tomorrow or next and then come back again for discussions as they have so many things to discuss.
Ngige also said he cannot destroy the medical profession, but has to protect the profession too.
The Minister also reacted to the court case filed by the Federal Government against the striking doctors.
According to Ngige, it is the Federal Ministry of Health and the office of the Attorney General of the Federation that can withdraw the case from court.
Despite the National Industrial Court’s ruling ordering the striking doctors to return to work, the Minister asked the plaintiffs – Health Ministry and Attorney General’s office as well as the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and NARD to approach the Labour Ministry to press their demands.
Ngige’s comments come two days after the National Industrial Court ordered resident doctors to suspend their strike action and go back to work, pending the determination of the substantive suit.
But the striking doctors have faulted the court’s ruling, vowing to appeal the order.
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