Resident doctors cancel nationwide protests but remain on strike

Resident doctors cancel nationwide protests but remain on strike 

Resident doctors have cancelled their nationwide protests planned to start on Wednesday (today).
The doctors however continue with their indefinite strike over welfare package and sundry issues.

They said the decision to put the protests on hold came after a closed-door meeting with principal officers of the Senate led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
President of Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, Emeka Orji, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
Orji, however, said there would be a review of the situation in the next 72 hours.
He said, “Because of the intervention of the President of the Senate, who is the number three citizen and the assurances he has given us, our planned national protest has been cancelled while the decision on the ongoing strike would be taken as soon we meet.”
In his remarks, Senator Akpabio thanked the medical doctors for honouring the Senate by calling off their planned national protest and working towards calling off the strike.

He said, “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.
“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.

“The President Bola Tinubu-led administration is doctors friendly and that explains the large number of medical practitioners he has appointed into his cabinet.
“Strike by medical practitioners should not be allowed even for a day because of the impact it creates in the polity.”