Resident Doctors Suspend Nationwide Strike

Resident doctors under the aegis of Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) have suspended the indefinite strike embarked upon on July 26.

Its National President, Dr Innocent Orji, disclosed this on Friday in Abuja, via a short statement.

According to him, a review will be made in two weeks.

He said “we just suspended the strike. Work to resume by 8 a.m. tomorrow (Saturday, Aug. 12).

“We will review progress made in two weeks.”

This comes after series of interventions by various stakeholders for the association to either embark on the industrial action in the first place or to suspend it earlier.

To avert the industrial action, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas on July 24 urged the resident doctors to suspend the strike.

Abbas made the call at a meeting between the leadership of the House and NARD in Abuja.

He said “I would urge you to suspend the industrial action while we intervene, and seek your understanding of the fact that a new administration just came on board.”

He added that the adminsitration was still in the process of settling down as ministers had yet to assume office.

Also, in addition to the strike, the association had planned to stage protests and picket tertiary health institutions and the Federal Ministry of Health.

However, following the intervention of the Presidency and the Senate President, the protests were suspended.