The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), which has been on a two-week strike, is on the verge of calling off their protest after a successful closed-door meeting with the Senate’s Principal Officers.
Dr. Emeka Innocent Orji, the National President of NARD, addressed the media after the meeting with Senate President Godswill Akpabio and other key Senate figures. Orji expressed optimism about a positive outcome based on their discussions during the meeting.
Orji stated, “We had a very productive meeting with the Senate led by the President of the Senate, and based on our discussions with them, we are hopeful that our National Executive Council (NEC) will find something positive in the deliberations today.”
He continued, “Given the President of the Senate’s intervention and the practical steps he demonstrated today, we have confidence that there will be a positive resolution within the next 24 hours. As a result of the Senate President’s intervention and assurance, we have canceled our planned national protest. The decision regarding the ongoing strike will be made as soon as we meet with our members.”
Senate President Akpabio also expressed his gratitude to the medical doctors for opting to cancel their planned protest and for their commitment to ending the strike. He assured them that the Senate would collaborate with the appointed Minister of Health to promptly address their concerns.
Akpabio emphasized that the administration led by President Bola Tinubu is supportive of medical practitioners, as evidenced by the considerable number of medical professionals in his cabinet. He noted the Senate’s determination to prevent medical strikes due to their significant impact on the nation.
The potential resolution of the strike underscores the importance of dialogue and collaboration between healthcare workers and legislative bodies to address critical issues affecting the healthcare sector.
