Sen, Dr. Chris Ngige, Honourable Minister for Labour and Employment has once again reiterated government commitment to the welfare of the Nigerian workers.
Speaking in the audience with the leadership of the Nigeria National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) at the conference room of the ministry in Abuja Thursday, he noted that government has made significant efforts in addressing some of the challenges bedeviling the nation’s health workers in spite of the dwindling revenue occasion by the global economic meltdown.
The Minister highlighted some of the progress made thus far by the government from their previous meeting with NARD to include the University of Port-Harcourt Teaching hospital crisis. In his words
“The issue of June 2020 covid-19 hazard allowances have been discussed even though there is a shortfall on government revenue. Government as a sign of good faith will start payment as from next week Monday to about six centers for a start while we wait for more funds to come.
“We have also discussed the issue of those omitted or working directly with the covid-19 centres and wards. They were really not omitted as such, except that the transmission of the actual persons suffered some hitches from the teaching hospitals and the medical centers. Right now, it has been rectified and we want the teaching hospitals to submit them directly to the federal ministry of Health, from there to IPPIS office.
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“On the issue of the residency program, the Act and the budgetary provisions, the federal ministry of Health and the budget office of the federation are working cogently with the ministry of Finance. We have rectified the problem in the budget. We now expect that the processing of the residency training fund in the said budget line which is the residency doctors’ training allowances of #4billion will commence.
We have the authority of the Accountant General of the federation to say that they have started work on that.
“On the issue of group Life insurance, the teaching hospitals have been responding. As of today, we have 14 teaching hospitals that have responded positively by submitting their nominal roll to the approved insurance companies. By that, NARD members that have collections in the past to deal with will get remedy.
“The issue of the University of Port-Harcourt Teaching hospital has been amicably resolved. The Chief Medical Director has magnanimously brought back the resident doctors that were interdicted. The two factions that had existed there have merged to become one.
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“Dr. Solomon Amadi emerged as the new leader of NARD local chapter there and will be in the office with his interim executive for the next four months. We congratulated them and the peace committee that was put up by this meeting. We don’t expect any more problems from Port-Harcourt.” Ngige said
In his response, Dr Aliyu Sokomba, President, National Association of Resident Doctor (NARD) thanked the Minister and other stakeholders for rallying round NARD with a view to assuaging their plights. He says
“We thank the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment for the commitment and dedication and the efforts he has put into addressing our concerns. Most of our concerns though not concluded, but we have achieved significantly.
“Progress has been made in getting them addressed and some of them to an extent have been completely addressed like the issue of the University of Port-Harcourt Teaching hospital.
“I must commend the efforts of the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment and other stakeholders including the Honourable Minister of Health and his team, the NMA and the budget office, National salaries, wages and income Commission, Head of Service and the Chief Medical Director of the University of Port-Harcourt Teaching hospital for all that has transpired between the last time we met and now in getting our concerns addressed,” Sokomba stated
Meanwhile, the Nigeria National Association of Resident Doctors have tendered an open apology to Prof. Henry Ugboma, Chief Medical Director of the University of Port-Harcourt Teaching hospital over erroneous allegation of embezzlement by the Uniport local chapter of NARD
Speaking with newsmen at a brief interview, Dr. Sokomba has these to say
“As part of the major issues that we discussed during our meeting. The issue of the University of Port-Harcourt Teaching hospital between the National Association of Resident Doctors and the Chief Medical Director, where the Association of Nigeria Resident Doctors alleged the embezzlement of #85million that was sent into the account of the resident doctors was looked into. Eventually, we found out there was no embezzlement whatsoever.
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“Because we have made this allegation, the Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors have apologised to the Chief Medical Director, several other resolutions were reached.
“The inter-diction letter the CMD and the hospital management issued, the CMD agreed that it will be withdrawn and the accounts that were blocked will be reopened.
“All the parties have agreed to work together.
“There is peace in the University of Port-Harcourt Teaching hospital. The allegations have been withdrawn, and apologies have been tendered.”
Prof. Ugboma added that he was delighted with the recent developments in the state and assured NARD of a cordial working relationship
“We ended very well. Elections were done yesterday to unite all the factions. I can tell you that I’m happy with the way NARD came into it and handled it and apologised for that allegation being made after looking into it to find out that the allegation is not true.
“Everybody including the minister of Labour was involved and some other ministers.
“I want to say that the Union in Port-Harcourt is now working together as one.
“We have a new executive and we are happy with them. I’m sure we will participate in all activities of NARD.”
“The meeting according to the Labour and Employment Minister has resolved to reconvene in the next two weeks so that those who have been given some assignments will report back to the secretariat.
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