Resident Doctors Suspend Warning Strike, Return To Work

Doctors in Nigeria, under the auspices of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), have suspended their 7-day warning strike.

NARD President, Dele Abdullahi, who confirmed the development, said the Doctors are to resume duties, today, 2nd September.

Naija News recalls the nationwide industrial action by the Doctors association, which commenced on Monday, August 26, was aimed at advocating for the release of Dr Ganiyat Popoola, a member of NARD who has been held captive for over eight months.

Popoola, a registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre in Kaduna, was abducted on December 27, 2023, alongside her husband and nephew.

They were abducted at the senior staff quarters of the eye centre.

While her husband was released in March after discussions with the abductors, Popoola and her nephew remain in captivity.

Speaking on the suspension of the strike action, Dr Abdullahi told The Cable that the NARD strike action was suspended after an agreed line of actions with the government.

He added that the agreed steps would be reviewed in the next three weeks and urged the government to implement measures to curb kidnappings, banditry and other insecurity matters.

“It was a seven-day warning strike so we have suspended it yesterday. The engagement with the federal government is currently going well and they have agreed to a line of actions,” he said.

“We will be meeting to review the progress the government has made in the next three weeks.”