He aid this when he appeared as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
Ngige said, “I want to appeal to NARD for them to reconsider their position, get back to work tomorrow or next and then come back again for discussions. We have so many things to discuss,” Ngige said.
“I have nephews who are resident doctors. I have three of them at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, UNTH Enugu, Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu. I have so many of them. I have a son who will graduate in Medicine in October. I cannot destroy the profession, I have to protect the profession too.
“The court has ruled and said ‘Go and do some more settlement but meanwhile, you go back to work and continue the settlement’.”
The National association of Resident Doctors made its position known in a statement titled, “NARD/SG/2020-2021/170921/83,” jointly signed by its President, Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi, and Secretary General, Jerry Isogun.
“After consultations with our lawyers, we have instructed our lawyers to appeal the ruling and file application for stay of execution.
The statement partly read, “As we are all aware, especially those that were present in court today, the NIC has given a ruling on the application for interlocutory injunction filed by the Federal Government. We are not satisfied with the ruling.
“By the refusal of the court to hear and determine our Notice of Preliminary Objection before taking the government’s application for interlocutory injunction, we believe we have been denied fair hearing which is a fundamental right.
“In the circumstances, we have instructed our lawyers to file necessary processes.
“We urge all members to remain calm and resolute. Everything depends on our firm resolve. We are committed to protecting your rights within the confines of the law. We believe justice shall be ours ultimately.”
JOHESU Steps Down Strike
However, in a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, JOHESU “unanimously adopted a resolution to step down the notice of strike action due to expire mid-night 17th September, 2021 and issue a fresh notice of fifteen days.”
The communiqué signed by the Acting National Secretary of JOHESU, Comrade, M.O, Ajorutu, said the union received and examined reports of congresses held at various health facilities across the country on the mobilisation for the strike action due to commence 00hrs 18th September, 2021.
“NEC-in-Session after long hours of exhaustive of deliberations on issues surrounding the planned strike action resolved as follows:
“The Federal Ministry of Health should ensure speedy circularisation of all establishment and welfare matters as agreed during negotiation meetings.
“The federal government should ensure that the new data for the computation of the adjusted Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for JOHESU members be completed and submitted to the “High Level Body” (HLB) of the FG not later than Wednesday, 22nd September, 2021 as agreed.
“NEC-in-Session urges the federal government to ensure that the “High Level Body” (HLB) complete and submit the computation of the adjusted CONHESS for inclusion in the 2022 budget within the 30th September, 2021 submission window.
“ Finally, NEC-in-Session unanimously adopts a resolution to step down the notice of strike action due to expire mid-night 17th September, 2021 and issue a fresh notice of fifteen days”.
The Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa was offering his goodwill message at the National Identity Day celebration when he suddenly stopped speaking and asked to be excused.
“Please, excuse me, I can’t continue,” he said then walked off the stage before slumping on his chair and was eventually taken out.
Earlier, he mentioned that the EFCC was grieving the loss of a colleague.
He broke down while talking about a man the commission arrested in Ibadan, Oyo State, with 116 SIM cards.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, and other senior officials at the event accompanied the EFCC boss as he was taken out of the hall.
The Master of Ceremonies later announced that Bawa’s condition was stable.
“I am happy to announce to you that the EFCC Chairman is now stable,” he said.
The minister, during his speech, also said that Bawa was stable but should be put in prayers.
This was contained in a statement issued by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity.
The statement is a reaction to an ongoing protest by Yoruba Nation, IPOB agitators, and others at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
The Nigerian government also threatened to judge the Yoruba Nation agitators by the company they keep, saying that no one should take them seriously.
Part of the statement read, “It was, however shocking, to see “Yoruba Nation” advocates yesterday unequivocally throw their lot in with Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
“IPOB is a designated terrorist organisation. It has now publicly revealed a 50,000 strong paramilitary organisation.
“It regularly murders security services and innocent civilians, with a significant uptick of violent attacks this year. And it is currently attempting to hold Nigerian states hostage with orders to stay at home under threat of terror.
“Without doubt, Nigerians and the entire world will judge Yoruba Nation by the company it keeps.
“No one can take seriously this organisation if it continues its IPOB association. When their allies systematically trample human rights, it raises sober questions about their claims to uphold the values of the UN.
“The cooperation is a worrying development, once parsed with Yoruba Nation’s increasingly violent rallies in Nigeria.
“Actions and associations speak louder than words. Yoruba Nation’s talk of human rights promotion must therefore be ignored.”
The case between the Federal Government and the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has been adjourned for 48 hours by the National Industrial Court in Abuja to enable further negotiations between both parties.
The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment through the Minister Chris Ngige took the striking doctors to court over the abdication of duties.
The Federal Government on August 16, 2021, prayed the court to be able to apply the “no work, no pay” rule against the doctors.
However, the court adjourned the case till September 15, 2021.
Due to the inability of the Counsel of both parties to reach a resolution, the Judge, Bashir Alkali, adjourned the case till Friday, September 17, 2021.
The NARD started their strike on August 2, 2021, after the Federal Government failed to fulfill its agreement made with them through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
He also sought the approval of grant components of $125 million.
The President, in a letter read by the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, during plenary said the loan request is an addendum to the 2018-2021 Federal Government External Borrowing Rolling Plan.
The President said the need to borrow more funds was to meet emerging needs of some critical projects.
“The projects listed in the addendum to the 2018-2021 Federal Government External Borrowing Rolling Plan are to be financed through sovereign loans from the World Bank, French Development Agency, China Exim Bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Credit Suisse Group and Standard Chartered/China Export and Credit (SINOSURE), in the total sum of $4,054,476,863 plus Euro 710,000,000. and grant component of $125,000,000.00,” the letter read.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman A Baba has revealed that the police high command will recruit no fewer than 20,000 police personnel between now and 2022.
IGP Baba said this in Ilorin, during his working visit to the Kwara Command of the Force.
He added that: “President Muhammadu Buhari has given approval for us to recruit 10,000 police personnel every year for six years. We have started but we have not done for 2020.
“So we are doing for 2020 and 2021 between now and the end of the year. Their training is for six months. Latest by the end of 2021 our strength is expected to increase by 20,000.by 2022.”
On the war against violence crimes in the country, Baba said: “Police is not fighting the war against banditry and other crimes alone. All other security agencies in synergy are fighting the bandits, including the military which is leading the war and we are winning.”
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson has moved foreign minister Dominic Raab following sustained criticism of his handling of the Afghanistan crisis, Downing Street said.
Johnson made Raab deputy Prime Minister, Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor in a reshuffle that also saw gaffe-prone education secretary Gavin Williamson sacked.
Meanwhile, the finance minister retains her role in the cabinet reshuffle.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, gave the assurance while briefing State House correspondents at the end of Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.). at the First Lady’s Conference room, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said, “Thank you very much. I think even Twitter itself two days ago gave what I will call a progress report on our talks with them. And I think if I want to quote them rightly, it has been productive and quite respectful.
“And as to how soon is soon, right? I want to assure you that between the time that Twitter operation has been suspended, and when it will be restored is by far, much, much shorter. That I can assure you that it is by far. In other words, if the operation has been suspended for about 100 days now, I can tell you that we’re just actually talking about a few, just a few more days now.
“What we’re trying to do is the changes that have been going on, but we need to dot the i’s and cross the t’s. I can assure you that we’re mindful of the anxiety of Nigerians and both parties are working very hard to put a closure on the matter.
“And like Twitter itself said, the changes have been very, very productive on both parties.”
Asked for specifics on when the matter would be resolved, he said, “Honestly, we have gone very far, I won’t be specific but we have gone very far, and honestly, it’s just going to be very, very soon, just take my word for that.”
Quizzed further for specifics, he said, “Honestly, I can’t be more specific than what I’ve told you that it is going to be very soon. Thank you.”
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