Chris Ngige has told former striking doctors that they are lucky to have him as the Minister of Labour and Employment, News Agency of Nigeria reports.

The minister said this as an assurance to the doctors that their demands were being met during a meeting with members of the Nigerian Medical Association and executive members of the National Association of Resident Doctors, on Wednesday, in Abuja.

According to NAN, he said, “You are lucky to have me, a medical doctor and health system manager here as the Minister of Labour and Employment. So, when the matter came, the issues are clear to me.”

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However, he faulted the previous NARD administration for not properly keeping the members of the association informed, stating that it was the reason the strike lasted this long.

He said, “The previous NARD leadership hoarded information from your members. Instead, things wouldn’t have degenerated. There is no need being pugilistic. We know that we have opposition to our government. It doesn’t mean that if we are doing something right, we should not be praised.

“If the former NARD leadership were not playing politics, they should have reported well to their members, especially after the intervention of the Elders Forum of which the President and Secretary-General of NARD were members.”