The Nigerian government has again reiterated its position on the sacked resident doctors across the country and suspension of the residency programme in teaching hospitals.
Addressing journalists after the weekly Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting, Health Minister, Onyebuchi Chukwu, said despite news reportage on the resumption of duties of doctors and the calls to reinstate resident doctors, the status quo remains.
The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, called off its nearly two-month old strike with a demand that government immediately withdraws the circular suspending the residency programme and sacking resident doctors.
“Delegates demand immediate withdrawal of the government circular (Reference No. C3132/v/46 of 13th August, 2014) suspending the residency training program and sacking of over 16,000 resident doctors, who constitute about 70% of doctors’ workforce in Nigeria,” the NMA had said in a communiqué .
“The NMA urge government, on its part, to reciprocate her good will in ensuring that resident doctors whose appointments were so terminated are reinstalled immediately without any punitive measures,” it added.
But Chukwu said the residency programme remained suspended until President Goodluck Jonathan decides otherwise.
DailyPost recalls that last week, the minister accused the nation’s media of confusing Nigerians, insisting the doctors were not sack. Read our report here —
At yesterday’s briefing, the Minister stated that: “Residency programme was suspended by the federal government, meaning they have been disengaged.
“It is true that over the weekend, we read in the papers that the Nigerian Medical Association has called off the strike. But we are yet to see any letter communicating that to us.
“We will move forward when we get a letter from NMA on the suspension of the strike, then the Minister of Health will advise Mr. President. So for now, residency programme remains suspended,” he said.
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