Updated: Industrial court orders resident doctors to suspend strike

The National Industrial Court in Abuja on Monday ordered the National Association of Resident Doctors to suspend its ongoing strike.

Justice John Targema gave the order while ruling on an ex parte application filed by the Federal Government.

He ruled, “It is hereby ordered that claimant/applicant and the defendant/respondent suspend all forms of hostilities forthwith pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”

The motion with Suit no: NICN/ABJ/197/2021 has the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Government as 1st and 2nd Claimants/Applicants and NARD as the only Defendant/Respondent.

Justice Targema granted an order of interlocutory injunction, compelling all members of the defendants/respondents in all the states of the federation to suspend the said industrial action commenced on August 2, 2021, and resume work immediately pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The court held that the continued downing of tools by the striking doctors had inflicted a lot of damage on the health system and the sick, especially in this perilous times of COVID-19 pandemic.

Targema further ordered the claimant/applicant and the defendant/respondent to suspend all forms of hostilities forthwith pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

The judge adjourned the matter to September 15, 2021 for the hearing of the motion on notice and any other pending application.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, in a statement described the ruling as a welcome development.

The minister, in the statement signed by the Deputy Director of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Charles Akpan, reassured the affected doctors that the ruling would not prevent the Federal Ministry of Health, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget Office of the Federation (BOF), Office of the Head of Service of the Federation (OHOCSF) and the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages and Commission (NSIWC) from implementing the agreements contained in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reached at the last meeting with the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and affiliate associations with timelines affixed to them.

The NMA had led three doctors associations to a marathon meeting which commenced on Friday and ended on Saturday with the signing of a new MoU.