The House of Representatives yesterday
mandated its committees on Health as well as Labour and Productivity to
intervene in an impending strike by the National Association of Resident
Doctors (NARD).
The resolution of the House was sequel
to a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Kingsley Chinda,
who lamented the culture of incessant strikes in the country. The House adopted the motion after it was put to vote by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara. NARD threatened to begin strike if its demands were not met by the Federal Government within 21 days. Chinda, while moving the motion, said:
“The recurring strikes in Nigeria have, in recent times, assumed an
alarming dimension, resulting in low productivity and poor quality
service delivery by public institutions and, by extension, affected
socio-economic development of the country.
“Health is of great importance in the
well-being and development of any nation, including Nigeria, thus
Section 17 (3)(d) of the constitution states that the State shall direct
its policy towards ensuring that ‘there are adequate medical and health
facilities for all persons. “In recent times, there have been
numerous nationwide strikes in the health sector by bodies, such as
Joint Health Workers Union of Nigeria and the National Association of
Resident Doctors, among other bodies operating in that sector.” According to him, the recurring strikes,
especially in the health sector, have continued unabated despite
palliative measures by government. The lawmakers urged the doctors to allow
the National Assembly to intervene and shelve their decision to begin
the planned nationwide strike in the interest of Nigerians.
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