News
Doctors sign MoU with FG as parties agree states can’t be forced to meet welfare demands
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the federal government.
The MoU was signed on Friday during a meeting at the office of Chris Ngige, minister of labour and employment.
Uche Ojinmah, NMA president, and Innocent Orji, NARD president, signed on behalf of the doctors.
NARD began a five-day warning strike on Wednesday following the refusal of the federal government to meet its demands such as massive recruitment of clinical staff in the hospitals, immediate payment of the 2023 medical residency training fund (MRTF) and the immediate increment in the consolidated medical salary structure (CONMESS) to the tune of 200% of the gross salary of doctors.
Olajide Oshundun, spokesperson of the ministry of labour, said parties agreed during the meeting that the federal government cannot compel state governments to effect payment of salaries and allowances in the health sector.
Ngige said the federal government also could not compel state governments to domesticate the Medical Residency Training Act.
He advised NARD to reach out to states that are not paying and negotiate with them, even if the rates are lower than that of the federal government.
“The meeting also discussed the bill on bonding of doctors for five years before licensing, sponsored by Ganiyu Johnson,” Oshundun said.
“It was agreed that the executive arm of government could not interfere with it being a private member’s bill and not an executive bill.
“The meeting resolved to await the public hearing on the bill, where the doctors will deal with it through the NMA to ensure it does not see the light of day.”
Meanwhile, the NARD president told newsmen that the resolutions reached at the meeting and the MoU signed will be discussed with the association’s national executive council (NEC) on Sunday.
He added that signing the MoU did not translate to calling off the strike as only the NEC can call off a strike.
“What usually happens after such a meeting, an MoU is signed to confirm the things discussed in that meeting. There’s usually a clause in the MoU that whatever is being signed will be taken back to the NEC for discussion and to determine the next line of action. That was in the MoU we signed,” he said.
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi state.
TheCable understands that Usman Ododo, Kogi governor, brought Bello to Abuja this morning and invited EFCC to come pick him up.
The EFCC had charged the former governor with alleged money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of N80.2 billion.
In April, the commission declared Bello wanted after several attempts to arrest him proved unsuccessful.
On August 20, the court of appeal in Abuja ordered Bello to surrender himself for arraignment.
Ola Olukoyede, EFCC chairman, would later allege that Bello withdrew $720,000 from Kogi coffers to pay his child’s school fees in advance.
The anti-graft agency also filed a 19-count charge against Bello over alleged money laundering.
However, the arraignment was stalled due to the absence of the former governor.
In May, Abdulwahab Mohammed, counsel to Bello, told the court that the former governor’s whereabouts remain unknown and that he was nurturing some safety concerns.
On August 20, the court of appeal in Abuja ordered Bello to surrender himself for arraignment.
Dele Oyewale, EFCC spokesperson, had said the court’s ruling was a “vindication” of the EFCC’s stance that Bello must face trial.
Sources had told TheCable that Bello has been hiding in plain sight — holed up in the “protective custody” of the Kogi state government — since he was declared wanted by the EFCC.
President Bola Tinubu has asked the house of representatives to confirm Olufemi Oluyede as the substantive chief of army staff (COAS).
Tinubu’s request is contained in a letter read by Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives, during plenary on Tuesday.
Tinubu said Oluyede’s confirmation is in accordance with the provision of section 218(2) of the 1999 constitution as amended and section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act.
The president said the army chief’s contribution to the military and Nigeria makes him “well-suited” for the role.
He said Oluyede has been professional in his duties, adding that his confirmation should be done “expeditiously”.
On October 30, Tinubu appointed Oluyede as the acting COAS following the prolonged illness of Taoreed Lagbaja, the former army chief.
The Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has suspended the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Moses Ekuma and his Housing and Urban Development counterpart, Francis Ori.
It was gathered that they were suspended on Monday during the State Executive Council meeting in Abakaliki, the state capital.
A statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Jude Okpor, which was sighted by our correspondent on Tuesday morning, read, “Following cases of gross misconduct and dereliction of duties by some government officials and matters related thereto, the Chairman of Council directed the indefinite suspension of the Honourable Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development and three months suspension of the Honourable Commissioner for Health respectively.”
It was also learnt that the development may be connected to the alleged theft of pieces of property belonging to the Ministry of Health by its officials and the reported underperformance of the Housing and Urban Development commissioner and his shoddy handling of the Amaeze Housing Scheme in the Ishielu Local Government Area of the state.
Recall that the governor was in the health ministry’s premises on Saturday night and met a scene where six officials were caught allegedly diverting government materials.
He, therefore, ordered their arrest and eventual prosecution.
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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.
She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others
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