Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar has admonished resident doctors to suspend their industrial strike for the overall interest of the country.
The Sultan of Sokoto also appealed to resident doctors to call off the strike in view of the devastating effects of COVID-19 pandemic and the outbreak of cholera in parts of the country.
This was contained in a statement issued by Director of administration, NSCIA, Mr Zubairu Usman-Ugwu, in Abuja on Saturday.
The council expressed the concern of its leadership on the strike that it has increased the burden of vulnerable Nigerians.
According to NSCIA, the strike action would not only affects the health sector but will go against the Hippocratic Oath members of the National Association of Resident Doctors are subscribed to.
The statement added that without prejudice to the legitimacy of the demands of NARD, NSCIA urged the association to, in the spirit of the Hippocratic Oath to which members subscribed, and in consideration of the devastating effects of COVID-19 pandemic and the outbreak of cholera in some parts of the country, suspend the industrial action, while negotiation with the government continues.
He also urged the Federal Government to reconsider the moves to jettison further negotiations with the doctors, saying that the anger of the government side, no matter its basis, would not ameliorate the suffering of ordinary Nigerians that fall helpless victims of the impasse.
According to the Sultan, “The government, therefore, has to vigorously and sincerely re-engage the leadership of NARD in a manner that would inspire the confidence of the medical doctors in the negotiation.”
He noted that the Federal Government also has a duty to coordinate the responses of other tiers of government towards addressing the grievances of the doctors.
The Sultan suggested that the Ministers of Health and Labour, Osagie Ehanire and Chris Ngige to intensify negotiations with a view to finding lasting solutions to the fundamental issues raised by the doctors.
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