Health minister begs doctor's to call off strike, says govt will keep its promise
- The minister of health has called on doctors in the country to call off their strike
- Dr. Osagie Ehanire said the current government will keep to its promises to health workers
- Ehanire also noted that President Buhari's administration is Nigeria's most sincere and serious government
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After a deadlock meeting with representatives of the federal government, striking resident doctors in the country have been urged by Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Nigeria's minister of health to call off their strike action.
Recall that doctors had declared strike action over unpaid salaries, lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in hospitals, and other entitlements, prompting the government to issue "no work no pay" threats on Tuesday, June 16.
Ehanire who made the appeal while speaking on Channels Television breakfast show, Sunrise Daily, on Friday, June 19, said the present government will unfailingly fulfil its promises to health workers.
The minister who stated this in reaction to claims that the government has not kept to its promises said the Buhari-led government has a track record of being sympathetic and keeping its promises.
Ehanire assured doctors that this administration led by Buhari is the most sincere and serious government Nigeria has ever had.
Source: Twitter
While lamenting that it is hard to convince people who do not want to be convinced, the minister noted that a lot has changed in the country since this present administration came into power.
He urged the striking doctors to reconsider their action for the interest of the country, adding that Nigeria cannot afford to have its health workers on strike at this time when the system is strained globally.
Recall that following the deadlock meeting between representatives of the federal government and those of striking doctors, the minister of health made some remarks.
Doctors on the platform of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) met with the minister of labour and employment, Senator Chris Ngige, on Tuesday, June 16, and were engaged in a discussion that lasted for hours without a headway.
Reacting to the development, Ehanire expressed surprise that Nigerian medical practitioners have chosen to go on strike at a time when the nation needs them the most.
The health minister pointed out that in some other countries of the world, even retired doctors return to hospitals to help coronavirus patients to the best of their abilities.
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In a related development, Nigerian doctors have vowed to continue their indefinite strike action amid Covid-19 pandemic if the demands highlighted in their letter to the government are not given consideration.
The doctors emphasized that there is no going back unless the federal government pays the salaries, hazard allowances, and other arrears.
NARD president Aliyu Sokomba described the government’s threat as “empty and the biggest joke of the century."
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