MEMBERS of the National Executive Council of the striking Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors have met and resolved to continue the ongoing strike despite efforts made by the Federal Government and the order of the National Industrial Court.

It said it was embarrassed that the Federal Government misinterpreted the ruling of the NIC and misinformed members of the public that the court had ordered the suspension of the resident doctors’ strike.

The association’s position was contained in a communique issued at the end of the meeting made available to journalists on Thursday.

The communique was jointly signed by the President of NARD, Okhuaihesuyi Uyilawa; Secretary General, Jerry Isogun; and Publicity Secretary, Dotun Oshikoya.

It was titled, ‘Communique issued at the end of an extraordinary National Executive Council meeting of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors.’

According to the communique, members of NEC reviewed the efforts of government and resolved to continue with the industrial action until all their demands are met.

 “After critical appraisal of the actions of both federal and state governments on all the issues affecting the welfare of our members as observed above and the perpetual insincerity from government as evidence by the reckless ex parte injunctions sought by the government and the ambiguity in the interpretation of the ruling of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, the NEC unanimously agreed via vote to sustain the ongoing industrial action until her demands are met as contained in the MoA signed more than 140 days ago and the recent MoU signed between the government and NMA,” it read.

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NARD decried what it described as the nonchalant attitude of government officials towards the sufferings of Nigerian doctors.

Specifically, it faulted the decision of the Federal Government to approach the National Industrial Court to stop the strike.

The communique added, “We observed with dismay that despite the express instructions given by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the FMOH to side-step all technicalities in resolving the issues of dispute between us and the government, not one item on the table had been resolved.

“The NEC was embarrassed by the misinterpretation of the court ruling by the Federal Ministry of Labour, thereby misinforming the public that the National Industrial Court had ordered that the strike should be suspended.

“The NEC was disappointed but not surprised at the Governor of Abia State for failing to offset the 19 months salary arrears being owed our members in his state which he promised to pay over 23 days ago.

“We also frown on the actions of the governors of Imo, Ekiti and Ondo states who still owe our members 10 months, six months and four months respectively.”