Sola Afuye
The House of Representatives has mapped out plans on how to reach a compromise with Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors,NARD, in order to avert the planned strike by the doctors.
To that end, an ad hoc committee made up of medical practitioners in the house has been set up.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has also scheduled a meeting with President Bola Tinubu as part of efforts to avert the planned industrial action.
He is also asking the doctors to grant two clear weeks of grace for the House to resolve outstanding issues.
At a meeting with the national leadership of NARD on Monday in his office, the Speaker said the ad hoc committee would be chaired by Prof Julius Ihonvbere, which will meet with all the stakeholders with a view to addressing the issues.
The Speaker also directed the ad hoc panel to swing into action immediately in finding a compromise between the doctors and the federal government.
NARD had on July 5, 2023, after its Extraordinary National Executive Council, issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to implement all pending agreements or face industrial action.
The resident doctors had embarked on a five-day warning strike between May 17 and 21, 2023, to press home their demands.
Hon. Abbas noted the 10th House was inaugurated a little over a month ago, and appealed to the resident doctors to see reasons with the current leadership and “give us a little time to address this matter.”
“I appeal to you to give us a little time. We just came in less than 50 days ago. Give us a little time to sort out these issues. We don’t have some stakeholders,” he said.
“Please, suspend your action by two weeks. I assure you that I’ll set up an ad hoc committee on this matter today. I also want to assure you that I’ll meet with the President between today and tomorrow and brief him on what’s happening.
“I plead with you to talk to your members that we have intervened again, and that within two weeks, we’ll take all the necessary actions.”
The National President of NARD, Dr. Emeka Orji, in his response, said he would get back to his members on the Speaker’s position.