President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime says negotiations are ongoing with stakeholders over the five-day warning strike embarked upon by members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on Wednesday.

Fielding questions from journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, the Director of Public Health at the Federal Ministry of Health, Morenike Alex-Okoh, said the strike concerned the government.

“The situation with the doctors’ strike is of concern to the government, and the negotiations have been ongoing,” Ms Alex-Okoh said. “We will continue under the circumstances, so I cannot give you any conclusive response now.”

She, however, said the ministry leaders were meeting with relevant stakeholders on resolutions.

NARD served notice on the federal government on Tuesday, warning that it could not guarantee further industrial harmony should government fail to address issues raised before May 29.

Its national president, Innocent Orji and secretary-general, Chikezie Kelechi, stated that NARD had issued a two-week ultimatum to the federal government to resolve issues as contained in the ultimatum before its expiration on May 13.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, relayed the federal government’s warning to the association to shelve the strike.

Speaking with journalists, the president of NARD said members were still awaiting the federal government’s call for negotiations.

“I am still in my hotel room now, and I have not received any call to come to the table to discuss the strike.

“We also heard that the government is planning a `no work, no pay’ strategy, but our position is that it should resolve issues raised because that is the only way to avoid escalation.

“Issuing threats will definitely worsen the problem. If no work, no pay is implemented, our members will determine how we will handle it.

“Going by that route will escalate the problem because it means that government is not ready to address the issues we have raised and will rather give punitive measures.”

At the Asokoro District Hospital, Abuja, Chidi Nnabuchi, former Head of Clinical Services, said the hospital would not shut down but would operate based on available capacity.

(NAN)