By Mohammed Momoh
As the nationwide doctors’ strike bites higher and refusing entreaties from government, Nigeria has recorded a record 31 coronavirus related deaths in 24 hours.
It recorded the deaths, the highest number of fatalities, the Nigeria Centre For Disease Control (NCDC), reported and confirmed 490 new cases, which brings the total of infections to 17,148.
As the government worries over the spike, its meeting with the striking members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) ended in deadlock.
The more than 19,000 doctors embarked on nationwide strike on June 15, 2020 to actualise their demands, including payment of hazard allowance, group life insurance, payment of minimum wage consequential adjustment, among others.
Labour and employment minister, Dr Chris Ngige, at the meeting on night of June 16, 2020, noted that health workers are the essential frontline officers during the COVID-19 pandemic and have suffered great mishaps.
He told the union, “ it is important to let you know that we have reached an agreement in many areas and the government side have shown evidence on the payment of the hazard and inducements allowances’’.
“We have paid those allowances since last night and it was directly paid into the account of recipients. So, we are hopeful that between the IPPIS office and the Central Bank, that before 24 hours they would all be credited for April and May.
“The payment is not for only Resident Doctors, but also for consultants, nurses, pharmacists, physiologist, mortuary attendants, ICU centres, and all health care workers in COVID-19 designated hospitals and all Federal Medical Centres in designate states.
“We have also agreed on matters that are in court, that we should step them down, so that we do not enter areas that are in the purviews of the court.
“Also, on the issue of group life insurance and the employee compensation, we have assured them that they have been paid and we told them they have no right to make claim for the resident doctors or any other health workers that must have had mishap in the cause of work resulting to in death.
” For those who do not die or have mishap or accidents in the cause of their work but became incapacitated, they can always make claims through the Employee Compensation Act, which the Federal Government have already activated,” he said.
The Minister of Health, Dr Ehanire Osagie, said that Nigeria was the first country in the world where doctors went on strike during a global pandemic.
“The health of Nigerians is very important at this crucial time. We are ready to protect the lives of Nigerians, we are not going to allow our hospitals to fallow.
“The health of Nigerians are very important at this crucial time and the health workforce are essential services, we have pleaded and we have done everything to meet the demands that they have placed on the table.
“We at the Ministry of Health are ready to protect the lives of Nigerians, we are not going to allow our hospitals to fallow. The government have an obligations to support and keep the health every Nigerians.
“The resident doctors have told us that they are not returning to work very soon until certain conditions are met and they cannot keep extending the goal post any time they like,” he said.
On behalf of the doctors, Dr Aliyu Sokomba, NARD President, said they would suspend the strike only when government comes up with tangible evidence.
