A photo of a court gravel
Members of the National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, have been ordered by the National Industrial Court in Abuja to immediately end their industrial action which started on September 7, 2020.
The order was issued on Wednesday, September 16 2020, by Justice Galadima in a ruling on an ex parte application filed by two civil society groups, the Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights, and Association of Women in Trade and Agriculture.
NARD, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, and the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige all joined as respondents in the suit marked, NICN/ABJ/124/2020.
The respondents were not present in court as the hearing was an ex parte which means, it was a one-sided proceeding.
Mr Frank Tietie whilst moving the ex parte application, urged the court to direct the resident doctors as providers of essential services key to the fundamental right to life of members of the groups and all Nigerians, to immediately cease their industrial action and resume duties.
Tietie the plaintiff’s lawyer, added that if allowed to continue, the strike action by the doctors would cause irreparable damage to the ongoing negotiation between NARD and the Federal Government.
He further added that the strike would render the pending substantive suit challenging the right of the doctors to embark on industrial action an academic exercise.
Justice Ibrahim Galadima, when delivering his judgment on the application upheld Tietie’s arguments and ordered NARD members to immediately end the strike action.
Justice Galadima ordered them to immediately resume their duties pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice already fixed for October 8 by another judge of the court, Justice Edith Agbakoba handling the substantive suit.
Tietie added that if allowed to continue, the strike action by the doctors would cause irreparable damage to the ongoing negotiation between NARD and the Federal Government.
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