Doctors under the aegis of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) have suspended their planned nationwide daily protest after a closed-door meeting with principal officers of the Senate on Tuesday.
The President of NARD, Emeka Orji, confirmed the development to PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday morning.
A statement by the office of the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, had also hinted of the doctors’ decision in a statement shared with this newspaper.
Speaking with our reporter on the phone, Mr Orji said the planned protest slated for Wednesday (today) has been suspended, adding that there will be an update “in the next 72 hours.”
“We met with the Senate President, majority and minority leaders and Whip today,” he said.
“The planned protest slated for Wednesday has been suspended and we will review again in 72 hours.”
Senate intervention
In a separate statement obtained by this Newspaper on Tuesday night, the President of the Senate, Mr Akpabio, applauded the doctors for calling off the protest and also working towards calling off the strike.
According to the statement by Mr Akpabio’s media office, the Senate President said the doctors’ demands are well noted “and will be addressed as soon as a new minister is appointed for the health sector.”
“I thank you on behalf of the Senate for honoring us with your decision not only to cancel the planned public protest but to also call off the strike in the interest of the suffering masses,” he said.
“Your demands are well noted and let me assure you that as soon as a Minister in charge of Health is appointed, the Senate will work with him or her to expeditiously address all your grievances.”
He said the President Bola Tinubu-led administration is doctors friendly and that his passion for the reform of the country’s health sector “explains the large number of medical practitioners appointed into his cabinet.”
He noted that strike by medical practitioners should not be allowed even for a day because of the impact it creates in the polity.
“That is why the senate is determined to ensure through interactions and consultation with relevant offices, the amicable settlement of the impasse is reached.”