Govt Urges Resident Doctors to End Strike, Promises to Rescue Kidnapped Colleague

• Aug 29, 2024

The Federal Government has urged the members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to call off their seven-day warning strike. The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Tunji Alausa, made the plea during a visit to the National Eye Centre in Kaduna.

According to Alausa, the government and security agencies are working hard to secure the release of Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, a staff member of the National Eye Centre who was kidnapped in December 2023 and has been held captive for about nine months. The minister said negotiations are ongoing to ensure the safety of their kidnapped colleague.

Alausa stated that he had spoken with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, the Commissioner of Police, and other security agencies, all of whom are working diligently to bring Dr. Popoola back home safely. He said the kidnappers have been changing their demands, but the government is determined to ensure her release.

The minister appealed to the resident doctors to call off the strike, assuring them that the government is "on top of the matter" and that "all hands are on deck to secure her release." Alausa emphasized that the strike would only worsen the situation and urged the doctors to continue praying for their colleague's safe return.

However, the Chairman of the NARD at the National Eye Centre, Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed, told the News Agency of Nigeria that the strike was still ongoing, with the medical and dental consultants joining the resident doctors in the action. He stated that the strike was a directive from the national body of the association.

This situation highlights the ongoing tensions between the government and healthcare workers in Nigeria. The kidnapping of Dr. Popoola has underscored the challenges faced by medical professionals in the country and the need for stronger security measures to protect them. The government's appeal to the resident doctors to end the strike reflects its concern about the impact of the action on healthcare services, especially during the ongoing negotiations for the release of the kidnapped doctor.

As the government continues its efforts to secure Dr. Popoola's release, the resident doctors' strike remains a pressing issue that requires a swift and comprehensive resolution to ensure the well-being of both healthcare workers and the patients they serve.