An Industrial Court sitting in Abuja, on Friday, ordered the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), to resume work with immediate effect, pending the determination of the substantive suit before it.

The Presiding Judge, Justice Bashar Alkali, in his ruling on an interlocutory injunction filed by Toochukwu Maduka (SAN), on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, gave the judgement on the grounds that the doctors are essential workers and are needed for curtailing COVID-19.

The Counsel representing the FG, had prayed the court for an order restraining NARD from continuing with the industrial action and return to their duty post, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

He argued that resident doctors as persons who provide essential services cannot embark on strike and continuing to do so will wreck hardship on citizens.

However, the counsel representing NARD, Robinson Ariyo, opposed the application for interlocutory injunction and urged the court to discountenance their application.

He argued that the life of a medical doctor is not less useful than the life an average human, adding that justice must be balanced, not just to the government, but also to the doctors who are the field marshals in the face of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.