By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its nationwide protest earlier scheduled to commence today, August 9.
365Daily had reported that the association was meeting with representatives of the federal government on the protest and ongoing strike late yesterday.
The President of the Senate, with Godswill Akpabio, and other principal officers, represented the federal government at the meeting, leading to a decision to postpone the protest for 3 days, after which another position will be taken.
NARD president, Dr.Emeka Orji, said “the protest has been suspended,” while speaking to journalists after the meeting, but added, ”We review again in 72 hours.”
“We had a very fruitful meeting with the Senate led by the president of the Senate and from our discussions with them, we are very hopeful that when we table our discussions today before the NEC, something positive would come out.
“From our interaction with the president of the Senate and the practical demonstration he did before us today, we are very confident that there would be light at the end of the tunnel in the next 24 hours.
“Because of the intervention of the president of the Senate, who is the number three citizen and the assurance he has given us, our planned national protest has been cancelled while the decision on the ongoing strike would be taken as soon as we meet.”
On his part, Akpabio assured the doctors that the President Bola Tinubu administration will accede to their demands.
“I thank you on behalf of the senate for honouring us with your decision not only to cancel the planned public protest but to also call off the strike in the interest of the suffering masses,” Akpabio said.
He assured them that their demands had been well noted, saying that as soon as a minister in charge of health is appointed, the Senate will work together to address their grievances. Akpabio said President Bola Tinubu is interested in the welfare of and doctors – friendly, hence the large number of medical practitioners he has appointed into his cabinet.