The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has suspended its planned nationwide strike following the intervention of the Vice President Kashim Shettima.
NARD President, Dr. Mohammad Suleiman on Sunday, said the decision to suspend the strike was reached after a meeting of the association’s National Executive Council.
He said the Vice President requested more time to address the issues raised by the doctors, and the NEC agreed to grant the request.
“The NEC has met and we have decided to give the Federal Government more time. The Vice President of the country has intervened and asked for more time and the NEC has graciously given him more time. In essence, the strike is not starting tomorrow,” Suleiman said.
NARD had on January 3 announced plans to resume “a total, indefinite and complete strike, known as TICS 2.0”, from January 12.
The association said the action was due to the Federal Government’s failure to implement agreements reached with resident doctors, including those contained in a Memorandum of Understanding.
The decision to embark on the strike was taken at an Emergency National Executive Council meeting held on January 2.
However, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja, on Friday issued an order restraining NARD and its members from proceeding with the strike.
Justice Emmanuel Subilim granted the order following a motion ex parte filed by the Federal Government and the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
The motion was argued by the Director of Civil Litigation at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Maimuna Shiru, who led a team of government lawyers in court.