The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has given the federal government a two-week ultimatum to prevail on the Lagos State government to recall the 788 medical doctors or face an indefinite strike.
?The association said it had already directed its members nationwide to proceed on a three-day warning strike scheduled for between May 31 and June 2.
This was disclosed by the acting secretary of the association in Abuja yesterday in a communiqué jointly signed by the president of NARD, Dr. Chiedozie Achonwa and acting secretary general, Dr. Usman Galadima, after its ordinary general meeting in Port Harcourt.
Achonwa said the action of the Lagos State government under Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), which affected over 70 percent of its members, contravenes Section 19 of the nation’s constitution.
?“NARD is therefore resolved to perfect its mandate by giving the federal government a 14-day ultimatum commencing from Monday, May 28 (yesterday) to prevail on the Lagos State government to recall the doctors and implement earlier agreements or face an indefinite nationwide strike in Nigeria in solidarity with our colleagues,” he said.
He said NARD would ensure that all state and federal hospitals throughout the nation remain closed, “until our colleagues in Lagos State get reprieve. The doctors in Nigeria have a right to make their rightful demands in line with their professional duties and these demands cannot and should not be met with dismissal. These demands cannot be subjected to the whims and caprices of any government at will.”
NARD contended that the action of the Lagos State government in dismissing the affected doctors was a departure from the legally permissible dispute resolution procedures and therefore must be reversed.