Court Adjourns Resident Doctors’ Case To September 15

The National Industrial Court has adjourned the hearing of the
dispute between the federal government and the resident doctors to
September 15, 2021.

The adjournment of the case involving resident doctors came just
as the Minister of Labour and Employment Senator Chris Ngige hailed
the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN)
for shelving its planned strike, describing their decision as
patriotic.

A statement by the leadership of National Association Resident
Doctors (NARD) signed by its President, Dr. Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi
said that the Industrial Court had adjourned the case with the
government to September 15.

He said: “ As a law -abiding association, we were at the court
as summoned but the Ministry of Labour and Employment was absent
and only the Ministry of Health was present representing the
federal government. The court then adjourned the case to September
15”.

In the statement NARD pleaded for understanding of Nigerians for
the ongoing strike, saying that, “ a hungry doctor is dangerous
doctors”.

He said that the association is hopeful that government will do
the needful by providing for the welfare of the doctors, so as to
stem the ugly state of brain drain afflicting the health
sector.

However, a statement by the Deputy Director, Press in the
Ministry of Labour and Employment, Charles Akpan, commended the
senior doctors for their maturity in not going of strike.

The statement said: “The consultants have proved they are
conscious of the onerous roles and extra burden they shoulder as
very senior doctors at a critical time, the resident doctors
embarked on a strike the federal government has done everything to
avert.

“These senior doctors have again shown maturity and commitment
to the sacred responsibilities demanded of their calling and the
Hippocratic oath.”

Ngige said that the doctors had further demonstrated faith in
the steps already taken by the federal government through the
Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige who directed
the immediate reversal of their migration from CONUAS back to the
CONMESS wage structure in obedience to the judgment of the National
Industrial Court and in the spirit of the ongoing conciliation
between them and their two employers – Minstries of Health,
Education as well as the National Salaries Income and Wages
Commission.

The Minister had directed the Chairman of the National Salaries
Income and Wages Commission to halt further action on migration of
these consultants from CONMESS to CONUAS salary structure , with
emphasis that “every court judgement no matter how bad, must be
obeyed until upturned .”

“ It is also instructive that the consultants by their action,
have expressed full confidence that the dispute will be
successfully conciliated and their demands met amicably .

“The federal government will continue to be alive to its
responsibilities to the consultants who double as teachers in the
University Colleges of Medicine as well as do clinical work in the
Teaching Hospitals, also guide the resident doctors in their
professional training, just as it will not shirk its obligations to
all medical doctors and health workers in the country.”

The National Industrial Court has adjourned the hearing of the
dispute between the federal government and the resident doctors to
September 15, 2021.

The adjournment of the case involving resident doctors came just
as the Minister of Labour and Employment Senator Chris Ngige hailed
the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN)
for shelving its planned strike, describing their decision as
patriotic.

A statement by the leadership of National Association Resident
Doctors (NARD) signed by its President, Dr. Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi
said that the Industrial Court had adjourned the case with the
government to September 15.

He said: “ As a law -abiding association, we were at the court
as summoned but the Ministry of Labour and Employment was absent
and only the Ministry of Health was present representing the
federal government. The court then adjourned the case to September
15”.

In the statement NARD pleaded for understanding of Nigerians for
the ongoing strike, saying that, “ a hungry doctor is dangerous
doctors”.

He said that the association is hopeful that government will do
the needful by providing for the welfare of the doctors, so as to
stem the ugly state of brain drain afflicting the health
sector.

However, a statement by the Deputy Director, Press in the
Ministry of Labour and Employment, Charles Akpan, commended the
senior doctors for their maturity in not going of strike.

The statement said: “The consultants have proved they are
conscious of the onerous roles and extra burden they shoulder as
very senior doctors at a critical time, the resident doctors
embarked on a strike the federal government has done everything to
avert.

“These senior doctors have again shown maturity and commitment
to the sacred responsibilities demanded of their calling and the
Hippocratic oath.”

Ngige said that the doctors had further demonstrated faith in
the steps already taken by the federal government through the
Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige who directed
the immediate reversal of their migration from CONUAS back to the
CONMESS wage structure in obedience to the judgment of the National
Industrial Court and in the spirit of the ongoing conciliation
between them and their two employers – Minstries of Health,
Education as well as the National Salaries Income and Wages
Commission.

The Minister had directed the Chairman of the National Salaries
Income and Wages Commission to halt further action on migration of
these consultants from CONMESS to CONUAS salary structure , with
emphasis that “every court judgement no matter how bad, must be
obeyed until upturned .”

“ It is also instructive that the consultants by their action,
have expressed full confidence that the dispute will be
successfully conciliated and their demands met amicably .

“The federal government will continue to be alive to its
responsibilities to the consultants who double as teachers in the
University Colleges of Medicine as well as do clinical work in the
Teaching Hospitals, also guide the resident doctors in their
professional training, just as it will not shirk its obligations to
all medical doctors and health workers in the country.”