The Federal Government and National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) again have failed to reach an agreement to put an end to the nationwide industrial action that has grounded the health sector.
The much-awaited talks to resolve the issues that led to the strike that is in its second month did not hold.
The National Industrial Court had on Wednesday stood down the case to allow for an out of court resolution between the doctors and the federal government.
The doctors had on April 1 embarked on a strike over “salary irregularities” among other issues.
At the scheduled reconciliation meeting on Thursday, the leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and NARD came with a document containing their positions which they exchanged with the federal government team.
The delegation of the doctors led by the Secretary-General of NMA, Dr. Philip Ekpe, and NARD President, Dr. Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi, told journalists after they left the conference room of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, that they were going to consult with their lawyers.
“We came here and they gave us a paper and we decided that we should go and show it to our lawyers. We gave them our own papers and everybody decided to go and get more interpretation from the lawyers on the implications so that we can come to discuss it,” Okhuaihesuyi said.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, explained why the federal government didn’t sign the expected memoranda of understanding that was done on August 21.
“What we were supposed to do was to see if they can have some addendum to that old MoU because some of the things there have been overtaken by events. So unfortunately we have been able to put the Ts and dot the Is so we have given some time to go and consult with their lawyers because tomorrow is court, so that is where we are,” he said.
He said the new MoU would be implemented in a way that will bring about peace in the sector.
