Resident doctors demand withdrawal of queries, threaten national protest in Abuja
By Bunmi Yekini
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has threatened a nationwide protest and industrial action over queries issued to members of its FCT chapter for communicating the association’s planned strike to authorities.
NARD said the affected members of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), FCT Administration, were being victimised for carrying out their duties as elected representatives of resident doctors.
In a statement signed by NARD President, Dr Mohammad Usman Suleiman, the association called on FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to intervene and order the immediate withdrawal of the queries.
NARD accused the FCT Civil Service Commission Chairman, Emeka Ezeh, of issuing the queries and urged Wike to call him to order.
The association also criticised the roles allegedly played by the FCT Hospitals Management Board’s Overseeing Director-General, Dr Ahmadu Abubakar, and Director of Administration, Ogunniran Akinkunmi, in the matter.
According to NARD, the affected doctors merely communicated the national association’s decision to embark on industrial action through the appropriate channels.
It said they should not be subjected to intimidation, harassment or punitive administrative measures for doing so.
“NARD considers the issuance of queries to union representatives over the communication of a planned national action deeply troubling,” the association said, warning that the move could heighten tensions and undermine industrial harmony in the FCT health sector.
NARD said it remained committed to dialogue and peaceful resolution of disputes but warned that it would not stand by while its elected representatives were allegedly victimised.
The association gave the FCT Administration a clear ultimatum, saying failure to withdraw the queries would lead first to a national protest in Abuja, followed by nationwide industrial action.
“This position is not intended as a threat but as a firm declaration of NARD’s resolve to protect the rights, dignity and legitimate interests of its members through lawful and constitutionally recognised means,” the statement said.
NARD had announced an industrial action scheduled to begin on Aug. 10, although the statement did not provide details on the current status or scope of the action.
The FCT Administration had not immediately responded to NARD’s allegations.