By Precious Mark
Resident doctors at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, have suspended their industrial action and will resume full clinical duties by 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 9.
The decision followed a high-level stakeholders’ mediation meeting convened by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Muhammad Pate, to resolve the lingering industrial dispute.
The strategic meeting, which was held on Monday at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja, was chaired by Ms. Tetshoma Dafeta, the Director of Human Resources Management and overseer of the Office of the Permanent Secretary.
Top health officials, labor directors, and the leadership of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) were all in attendance.
According to a resolution statement signed by NARD’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Abdulmajid Yahya Ibrahim, on Wednesday, the critical welfare issues that triggered the strike have been completely ironed out with signed implementation timelines.
“Following extensive deliberations, resolutions were agreed upon for the restoration of Call Meal provisions, resolution of all outstanding Bench Fee and Identity Card issues, agreement on member accommodation concerns, and the expedited processing of all pending staff upgrades,” the association stated.
The medical body further disclosed that the mediation team secured a strict undertaking ensuring that no member of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at OAUTHC will face any individual or collective victimization for participating in the industrial action.
Expressing appreciation to the Ministry’s leadership and the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), NARD noted that the successful intervention has paved the way for lasting industrial harmony in the region’s healthcare delivery system.
The association added that it remains optimistic about ongoing federal interventions aimed at resolving similar Call Meal grievances at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, before the expiration of an active ultimatum, the statement concluded.