Industrial court orders resident doctors to suspend strike

The National Industrial Court, Abuja division, has ordered the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to suspend the ongoing nationwide strike.

National Industrial Court judge John Targema asked all parties in the suit to maintain status quo pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

“Having looked especially on the affidavit of extreme urgency, the grounds of the application, the affidavit in support of same and arguments of counsel for the applicant. I also weighed the submissions and arguments of counsel on the law as it stands on this application,” Targema said.

“It is hereby ordered that claimant/applicant and the defendant/respondent suspend all forms of hostilities forthwith pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”

The judge ordered that a hearing notice be issued and other processes are served on the defendant, including the originating summons.

He said that that the proof of service should be kept in the case file before the next adjourned date.

Targema adjourned the matter to September 15 for a hearing of the motion on notice and/or any other pending application on its merit.

The doctors had commenced the strike on August 1 over irregular payment of salaries, brain drain, and other issues.

Nigeria’s House of Representatives convened a meeting between the doctors and the Nigerian government but the parties failed to reach an agreement.

The Nigerian government then instituted a suit against the doctors and asked the court for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the doctors from continuing with the industrial action.