Trade dispute between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has been handed over to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria for adjudication.
Sen. Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Employment, disclosed this in a letter addressed to NARD and the Federal Ministry of Health on Friday.
Ngige had given the NARD leadership till the end of work on August 11 to summon a virtual meeting of its National Executive Committee to inform its members on the efforts of the federal government with a view to ending its strike.
“Whereas trade dispute has arisen and now exists between NARD and the Federal Ministry of Health/Federal Government and whereas efforts to promote settlement through conciliation were ongoing but had now failed.
“Considering the facts that members of NARD who are classified as essential services workers/employees had embarked on strike on August 2, over the issues under conciliation.
”Contrary to the provisions of Section 18 of the Trade Disputes Act CAP T8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, after attending a Conciliation and Agreement Review meeting on July 22.
“Now, therefore, I , Senator Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 17 of the Trades Disputes Act, CAP T8 laws of the Federation of Nigeria.
“I hereby refer the matter for consideration and the issues in dispute to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria for adjudication,” he said.
