FG cautions doctors against strikes

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir David Lawal has appealed to medical doctors to desist from using strike actions to seek improved working conditions.

He said such actions may cost doctors public sympathy, as many avoidable deaths are recorded during such strikes.

The SGF made the appeal yesterday in Abuja when he received the executives of the National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (NARD) in his office.

He assured doctors that the Federal Government within limited resources is desirous of improving the working environment of government medical institutions.

Lawal also explained that doctors in Federal Medical Centre, Owerri are not being victimized but their demanded that the Chief Medical Director should be sacked was abnormal.

He added that government will look into the legitimate demands of the doctors and urge them to consider what they can also sacrifice to the country.

President of NARD, Dr. John Onyebueze listed challenges facing the association, including poor funding of hospitals, lack of critical equipment, improved salary structure, pension matters and the plight of their colleagues in Federal Medical Center, Owerri. He urged the SGF to ensure that government addressed these challenges.