The Association of Resident Doctors, ARD, ESUT Teaching Hospital, Parklane has called off their strike with effect from 8 am, Wednesday 6th May 2020.
The decision to suspend the 12 days old strike was reached during a meeting between the State Governor and representatives of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, and the Southeast caucus of the body.
The Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi pleaded with the group to suspend the industrial action with a promise of a concession of their demand.
“The lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic with its attendant losses to the coffers of the State Government affects an immediate full implementation of the demand”, Ugwuanyi explained.
He, however, promised full implementation of their demands in no distant time.
Recall that the ARD ESUT-TH had embarked on an indefinite withdrawal of services effective from 8 am, April 24th, 2020 for the failure of the State Government to implement the Consolidated Medical Salary Scale, CONMESS, as approved for doctors in tertiary institutions in Nigeria in 2019.
According to the Association, the Enugu State Government reneged on her agreement with the group to implement 100% of CONMESS by the April salary, hence the industrial action.
In solidarity, the Southeast caucus of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors NARD wrote to the State Governor threatening to extend the industrial disharmony to the rest of the tertiary hospitals all over the Southeast of Nigeria in support of her members in ESUT-TH Parklane.
This was contained in a letter, Ref SEC ARD/19-20/04/007 dated 30th April 2020 signed by Dr. Awachie Dubem and Dr. Nwosu Alexander, which expressed the Southeast caucus of the NARD’s intention to embark on a 72-hour solidarity warning strike.
An industrial action of all ARD members in all tertiary hospitals in Enugu and the entire Southeast was slated to commence on the 4th and 7th of May, 2020 respectively.
Also, all tertiary institutions in Southeast Nigeria were to go on an indefinite strike starting by 8.00 am on Monday 11th May 2020.
But the acceptance of a concession by the State Governor led to the suspension of the ARD ESUT-TH Parklane and averted the planned indefinite strike action of all Resident Doctors in all tertiary institutions in the Southeast which would have been disastrous given the COVID-19 pandemic the nation is trying hard to contain.
Residents and Consultant Doctors applaud the suspension as the ESUT-TH Parklane is the hope of the common man in healthcare in the State; the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku Ozalla is in outskirts of the State.
- EFCC Restores 14 Assets to Enugu State Government - April 25, 2024
- Abusing The Nation’s Legal Tender Now Comes With Severe Consequences - April 24, 2024
- Enugu Lawmakers Amending Criminal Code Lawto Criminalize Ransom Payment - April 24, 2024
