NSCIA appeals to NARD to call off strike

Nigerian Supreme Council For Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has appealed to the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to call off its strike.

The appeal was signed by its Director of Arc.Zubairu Administration, Haruna Usman-Ugwu.

According to the statement, the leadership of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, under His Eminence, Alh. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, the Sultan of Sokoto, is worried and concerned about the on-going strike of NARD which has increased the burden of vulnerable Nigerians.

“Without prejudice to the legitimacy of the demands of the NARD, we urge the association to, in the spirit of the Hippocratic Oath to which members subscribeand in consideration of the devastating effects of COVID-19 pandemic and theoutbreak of cholera in some parts of the country, suspend the industrial action while negotiation with the government continues,” NSCIA said in a statement.

“The council pleads with the Minister of Labour and Productivity to reconsider the Ministry’s stance to abandon negotiations with the doctors.

“The anger of the government side, no matter its basis, has not ameliorate the suffering of ordinary Nigerians who are helpless victims of the logjam,” the council said.

It added, “The government, therefore, has to vigorously and sincerely re-engage the leadership of NARD in a manner that would inspire the confidence of the medical doctors in the negotiation.

The federal government also has a duty to coordinate the responses of other tiers of government towards addressing the grievances of the doctors.”

While commending the intervention of the National Assembly and other concerned Nigerians, NSCIA urged the Federal Ministry of Health and Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity to intensify negotiations with a view to finding a lasting solution to the fundamental issues raised by the doctors.

The council also urged the doctors to suspend the current strike to allow for meaningful negotiation.