The Federal Government has said that State governments are to be blamed for the strike action embarked by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).
The Minister for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, while speaking to newsmen on Thursday, August 5, in Abuja said most of the requests by the NARD, are within the purview of state governments.
Ehanire noted that 7 out of the 12 demands presented by NARD, are within the jurisdiction of state governments, adding that it is not a just move to call for a nationwide strike.
“Seven out of the 12 demands presented by NARD are within the jurisdiction of state governments. This is not a just move to call for a nationwide strike.
“In their notice titled 25th July, 2021, they mentioned states like Imo, Kaduna, Delta and Lagos. The Federal Government cannot force these states to do anything.
“For the issues surrounding the Federal Government, not all of these issues are for the Ministry of Health; the payment lies within the power of the Accountant General of the Federation. We are also working with other agencies to sort out some of these issues.”
Reacting to the fight against brain drain of doctors in the country, the minister added;
“Nigeria is not the only one suffering from it, some other developing countries also suffer from it too. Because they studied in English, they easily get into those countries.
“We are also working to make sure that working conditions in Nigeria are favorable. That is why we are also working on the issues of hazard allowances.
Recall that NARD had issued a four-week ultimatum in June, 2021, to the Federal Government to meet its demands. They had threatened to embark on strike action if the government fails to meet their demands.
The aggrieved doctors who embarked on strike action on Monday, August 2, noted; the migration of doctors from the GIFMIS platform to the IPPIS, non-payment of house officers, inconsistency in the payment of salaries, non-payment of death benefits, among others as part of the issues.
Ehanire, however, said the association was using the anxiety around the third wave of COVID-19 to push its demands.
