The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) at Kaduna’s Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital has suspended its six-day warning strike.
Dr. Josiah Yakubu, President of the chapter, revealed the development in a statement released on Monday in Kaduna.
Yakubu said that the suspension was the outcome of an emergency congress conducted on Saturday, as well as a series of discussions and interventions, primarily by the Nigerian Medical Association’s national and state leadership.
He said that work at the hospital would resume on Tuesday at 8:00 a.m., with additional Resident Doctors returning by 10:00 a.m.
Yakubu went on to say that the congress found that since the start of their industrial action, the Secretary to the State Government had interfered to mediate on behalf of the state government.
He stated that the NMA leadership held a follow-up meeting at the request of the Secretary to the Kaduna State Government.
“This was unlike our first gathering, when some of our members received letters terminating their appointment as resident doctors.
“Some others received warning letters with a notice of intention to terminate their appointments.
“We have come to understand that the action was unilaterally taken by the management of Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital,” he claimed.
Yakubu stated that the discussion with the medical association, which lasted roughly two hours, allowed both parties to understand the concerns of concern.
He stated, “They underlined the potential ways to seek a peaceful resolution of the industrial conflict.
“This was in such a manner that the doctors are not shortchanged and that healthcare service delivery in the state is not compromised.”
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Yakubu stated that the state government had accepted and acknowledged the reality of the doctors’ concerns and demands, and had committed to addressing them.
He added, “The secretary to the state government requested a two-month period to allow the government to practically initiate and handle these concerns on manpower and remuneration of doctors in the state as asked.
“The cost of transitioning from CONMESS 2014 to CONMESS 2024 has been developed and presented to the SSG for consideration by the Governor.
“A Memorandum of Understanding was co-signed by the SSG, Chairman, NMA Kaduna State, NARD President, President, ARD Kaduna, and President, ARD BDTH.
“The meeting ended with an expectation of these developments to be communicated to the congress of ARD Kaduna and ARD BDTH for appraisal.”
Yakubu further stated that the leadership of the NMA and NARD had committed to closely monitoring the entire process until all demands were addressed properly.
