By Salim Yunusa
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) suspended their 63 day old strike after an emergency NEC meeting concluded on Sunday, 3rd October, 2021, where 56 members voted for the suspension of the strike against 28 members who voted for its continuation.
Five members were absent to cast their votes.
The suspension comes after an Emergency Delegates Meeting (EDM) of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) which was conducted in Abuja on the 2nd of
October, 2021, which intervened and advised NARD to suspend the strike.
The meeting, which had as its only agenda; Review of progress of the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and the Nigerian Medical Association, was presided over by the President of the association, Prof (Dr)Innocent A O Ujah, FNMA, FNAmed mni.
Furthermore, the meeting, which lasted for about 7 hours had in attendance members of the National Officers Committee (NOC), Past Presidents, Past Secretaries General, Presidents and National Officers of Affiliates, Chairmen of the 36( thirty six) State branches, FCT and their delegates.
Highlights of the resolutions of the meeting included;
1. A mandate to the NOC to ensure speedy implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) signed with the Federal Government of Nigeria on the 21st of August, 2021.
2. Advised the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to suspend their strike in view of the ongoing intervention by NMA.
3. A mandate to the NOC to report back to the National Executive Council ( NEC) periodically on the progress being made on the implementation of the MOU.
4. A mandate to the NOC to continue to interface with the Chairmen of the state branches including the FCT on the progress being made.
The communique of the meeting was signed by Dr. Philips Uche Ekpe, the secretary general of the association.
