- By Matthew Don
Resident doctors under the auspices of National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on Monday, September 4 took everyone including the government by surprise, calling their members across the country to stop work.
The doctors are protesting poor services and welfare and had earlier given indication they would be going on strike if government did not take steps to address their concerns.
President Muhammadu Buhari is worried about the incessant strike actions, first by the university lecturers and now the doctors.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige has called an emergency meeting with the doctors for Wednesday, September 6 as against the earlier proposed November 2 meeting with the doctors.
As a result of the strike, patients are in a state of uncertainty even though most of the hospitals where the strike is affected are optimistic the consultants and other personnel like the nurses will attend to ailing patients.
Ngige believes the doctors had reached pact with the government for reconvening on November 6 and so was taken by surprise by the sudden change of plan by the doctors.
Ngige had pleaded with the doctors to return to work while negotiations would continue.