Nigeria Content Online

The Senate president, David Mark has commended the
National Association of Resident Doctors for ending their four-week
industrial action.

The senate president gave the commendation on
Monday after the striking doctors announced their return to duty after
four weeks of industrial action to demand for the payment of their five
months arrears of salary, and restoration of decaying infrastructure in
government hospitals, and lack of professional training abroad.

The resident doctors called off their strike on Saturday last week.

Thanks for saving lives

The senate president who met with the doctors over
the strike action, last week said he was pleased that the doctors
listened to his plea to save lives and return to work.

Tunde Aremu, the president of the association,
confirmed that their meeting with the senate president facilitated
their plight and that they are giving the government the benefit of
doubt to redeem their promise.

Mr Aremu said the striking doctors called off
their strike in the interest of the general public and that the
authorities have assured them that their unpaid allowances was included
in the 2010 supplementary budget which was passed by the senate last
week Wednesday.

“We were pleasantly surprised that (the 2010
supplementary budget) was passed in the senate on Wednesday and passed
second reading in the House of Reps.” Mr Aremu said. “The remaining
part of the (pact) is now with the executive arm and we hope that it
will be sorted out because we will be having a meeting in two weeks
time. I expect the executive arm to do its part before the end of the
two weeks.”

On the part of the infrastructure decay, he said
the senate president has asked for some more time to consider the
problems since it is an issue that requires a long term approach to
solve.

On the issue of training abroad, the association’s
president said the senate is also looking into the matter to find ways
they can help.

He however added that if the government defects, they may also embark on another industrial action.

“We want people to start appealing to government
now to make sure they do their part of the bargain because we don’t
have any alternative again.” Mr Aremu added.

The doctors had embarked on an indefinite strike
over failure of the Federal government to implement the consolidated
Medical Doctors Salary Scale, (CMDSS).

But at a meeting with the Senate President, the
senate president undertook to intervene so that government meets its
own side of the bargain.

“Dialogue is the best option to any disagreement or crisis.” The senate president said.

He reiterated the resolve of the government to
meet the demand of its workforce including medical workers so that the
dividend of democracy will trickle down the ladder.