Labour and Employment Minister, Chris Ngige, on Monday, described the ruling by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria on the strike by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors as a welcome development.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the court, in its ruling, ordered the striking members of NARD and the Federal Government to suspend actions and maintain status quo.
Justice John Targema gave the order pending the hearing and determination of motion on notice.
Targema said that he granted the application after careful consideration of the processes filed by the applicants.
Ngige said that the ruling would
not prevent the Ministries of Health, Finance and Budget Office from the implementation of the agreements contained in the Memorandum of Understanding.
The MOU was reached at the last meeting with the Nigerian Medical Association and affiliate associations with timelines affixed to them.
The NMA led three doctors associations to the negotiation on August 20.
NAN reports that Justice Targema, in the ruling said, “Having looked especially on the affidavit of extreme urgency, the grounds of the application, the affidavit in support of same and arguments of counsel for the applicant. I also weighed the submissions and arguments of counsel on the law as it stands on this application.
”It is, hereby, ordered that claimant/applicant and the defendant/respondent suspend all forms of hostilities forthwith pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”
He ordered that hearing notice be issued, with other processes, including the originating summons, served on the respondent and proof of service kept in the case file before the next adjourned date.
Targema, in addition, adjourned the matter until September 15 for hearing of the motion on notice and/ or any other pending application on its merit.
The Ministry of Health and the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Labour, had approached the court to seek for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining members of NARD across the country from continuing with the industrial action.
