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FG Pledges to End Doctors’ strike

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The Federal Government has pledged to do everything possible to end the ongoing nationwide strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), which has paralysed activities in government-owned hospitals nationwide.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, said this while addressing the Nigerian Health Commissioners’ Forum Quarterly meeting on Friday in Abuja.

Ngige said this in a statement signed by Mr Charles Akpan, Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations in the ministry.

The minister recalled that the doctors were “sleeping on their rights until COVID-19 pandemic broke out last year” and the Federal Government felt that, the N5,000 hazard allowance paid to them since 1991 was too paltry.

He noted that the Federal Government paid the doctors and other health workers “bumper money” as special COVID hazard allowance for three months in the first instance, to the tune of N32 billion.

He said that states were told to pay as much as they could afford.

He, however, narrated to the Health Commissioners the trajectory of the current strike.

“In September 2020, they put a notice of strike, asking for Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), by which each of them will get N542,000 to cover cost of books and journals for that particular examination, transportation and lodging for three days.

“Luckily, a supplementary budget was being put together and it was included and was paid to them. They called off the strike.

“By March this year, they listed other things again. They said the Residency Training Fund is not in 2021 budget.

”They also needed the hazard allowance to be upgraded and demanded that States should domesticate Residency Training Act.

“They said some states owed their people long months of salaries. They also wanted skipping allowance and arrears of consequential adjustment to minimum wage.

“Before we could say Jack Robinson, they went on strike on April 1. I thought it was April fool until April 2 when we didn’t see them at work.

“I told them that, they didn’t give the mandatory 21 days notice to their employers who have written to me to complain.

”However, we returned to the table. Government pledged that the 2021 Residency Training Fund will be captured in the supplementary budget. This has been done and payment is ready,” he said.

Ngige noted that, the the Federal Government had also approved N11.3bn for Group Life Insurance in 2020 and renewed it in 2021.

He said government had also held a series of conjoint NMA-JOHESU meetings on hazard allowance until the two disagreed and then asked for separate negotiations.

”They are the ones delaying action on this.

“Every other issues bordering on what the states have failed to do with doctors is where our hands are tied, but Federal Government agreed to speak to the Governor’s Forum.

“The arrears of consequential adjustment to the minimum wage cuts across sectors.

“Anyway, N160 billion earmarked for it has been exhausted and the next thing to do is to push for more. But really, some hospitals have got.

”We also abolished bench fees for Residency Training for those doing specialty. At this, the doctors left the negotiation happy,” he said.

Ngige added that they returned again on July 22, 2021,”complaining about things that were undone and the Government updated them on the efforts being made to address their demands.

“We told them that the Residency Training Fund is in the supplementary budget signed into law.

“So, we will now approach the World Bank to lend to CBN and from there, we will obtain the Naira component and it will be paid.

“They said one hospital, LUTH, charged their member bench fee. We inquired and the CMD LUTH said the person came before the circular was issued. So, the person will be refunded.

“They said 114 house officers have not been paid out of 3,000. The Registrar of MDCN said it looks like their particulars were wrong or they did not validate, because they are expected to validate on the 15th of every month.

”They were satisfied. They left only for us to hear that after their NEC in Benin, they went on strike and said it will not be called off until they get alert.

“They equally said they were removed from the scheme of service. The Head of Service of the Federation now explained to them that career progression should not be for a temporary person.

”The House officer has a provisional licence. An NYSC doctor is on national service. However, we agreed that we should do an addendum circular to explain that they should not be in scheme of service,” he said.

According to the minister, they said Lagos has started implementing and paying them allowance of N15,000 as call duty for NYSC. I told them that it is wrong if Lagos was doing that, because their wage structure is still the same.

He added that the Head of Service of the Federation, called Head of service Lagos and she explained that there was nothing like that.

”Lagos wrote and we showed it to them, but they said the circular must be withdrawn. Government doesn’t function that way. If it will be withdrawn, it will go to Council on Establishment.

”If you cannot wait, we do you an addendum circular on the remuneration. The other money is being processed, but you have to call off the strike.

“They said they will not call off till they get alerts. So, by law, we sent them to industrial court.

‘ “Section 17 of the Trade Dispute Act says if conciliation fails, you transmit to court. They got to court. The court ordered them to return to work while issues are discussed.

“The court said, employees cease hostilities with your employer and employer cease hostilities against your employee.

” They said a senior lawyer told them that cessation of hostilities doesn’t mean that they should call off the strike. The court adjourned until Sept. 15,” Ngige said.(NAN)

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Metro

Wike Approves Deployment of FCTA’s Pioneer Perm. Secs

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has approved the deployment of the 10 pioneer Permanent Secretaries of the FCT Administration.

The FCT Head of Service, Dr Udo Atang, announced the deployment in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.

Atang said that Dr Adams Babagana was deployed to Health Services and Environment, while  Wanki Ibrahim was deployed to Treasury and Budget.

He also said that Asmau Muhktar was deployed to the Social Development Secretariat, while Dogo Bodinga was deployed to Economic Planning, Revenue Generation and Public Private Partnership Secretariat.

The head of service added that Olusa Olusegun was deployed to the Area Councils Services, Adetoyi Kolawole to Women Affairs, while Grace Adayilo Agriculture and  Rural Development Secretariat.

Also deployed were Olubunmi Olowookere to Legal Services Secretariat; Ibe Chukwuemeka to Education Secretariat; and Okonkwo Nonubari to Transportation Secretariat.

“The posting takes immediate effect. Thus, the affected officers should handover to their immediate subordinates in their current Secretariats, Departments and Agencies,” Atang said.

Wike had on March 18, inaugurated the permanent secretaries in line with the provisions of the FCT Civil Service Commission Law, 2018, which commenced operation. (NAN)

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FG Declares March 29, April 1, Public Holiday to Mark Easter Celebration

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The Federal Government has declared Friday, March 29, and Monday, April 1, as public holidays to mark the Easter celebration.This was contained in a statement by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr Aishetu Ndayako on behalf of the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to her, the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government.
Tunji-Ojo urged Christians and all Nigerians to emulate the sacrifice and love displayed by Jesus Christ in dying for the redemption of man.
The minister noted that Easter, beyond religious significance, promoted values of love, forgiveness and compassion which were essential for social cohesion and harmony.
He called on Christians to imbibe these virtues as they were capable of impacting positively on the socio-economic development of Nigeria by fostering unity, reducing conflicts and encouraging cooperation among Nigerians.Tunji-Ojo further urged Nigerians to show acts of charity and generosity to help alleviate the material conditions of the less privileged amongst them.This, he said, was in tandem with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.He wished Christians at home and abroad a happy and blissful Easter celebration.The minister also called on Nigerians to join hands with the Tinubu’s administration in its determination to bring sustainable development and usher in prosperity to all.

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Wike Woos Indian Investors to Abuja

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The Minister of the Federal Capital (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has sought for huge investments from Indian investors, as part of strategies to fast tract the development of the capital territory, Abuja.

Wike made the call when the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Shri Balasubramanian, visited him in Abuja on Tuesday.

He acknowledged the presence of many Indian companies in the country, particularly petrochemicals and fertiliser companies among others.

“We would also like to have this kind of relationship in Abuja.

“You have seen improvement in security; you have seen improvement in infrastructure in Abuja. That is part of the “Renewed Hope” agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

“We will discuss other areas that will be of mutual interest between India and Nigeria, and Abuja in particular,” he said.

The minister said that it was within the purview of the FCT Administration to ensure that all Embassies in Nigeria, have an unhostile environment to enable them perform their assignments.

Earlier, Balasubramanian said that the excellent relationship between India and Nigeria was quite old.

The Ambassador explained that India began its diplomatic relationship with Nigeria two years before the country became independent in 1958, when India established a diplomatic office in Lagos.

He said that there were over 155 Indian companies in Nigeria, with more than 27 billion dollars of investments in various manufacturing areas.

He said that companies ranged from plastics to steel, oil, and pharmaceuticals among others in every sector.

According to him, Indian companies are the second largest employer of labour after the Nigerian government.

“So that is the level of engagement that we have, including wonderful political relationships.

“Culturally, we also have excellent cooperation. We have been having various groups from Nigeria going to India to participate in different exhibitions and cultural activities.

“We are very happy with all the facilities that are being extended to our Embassy.

“We are more than happy about it and would like to continue the relationship”. (NAN)

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