Count Yourselves Lucky That I’m Minister Of Labour, Ngige Tells Doctors

The Minister of Labour and Employment has berated Nigerian doctors for embarking on strike for two months and putting the health sector at risk.

Ngige said this during a meeting with members of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and executive members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), on Wednesday, in Abuja.

He told the doctors that they are lucky to have him as the minister who was in charge of interfacing with them on behalf of the Federal Government.

The minister, however, gave an assurance to the doctors that their demands were being met by the government.

He blamed the previous NARD administration for not properly keeping the members of the association informed, stating that it was the reason the strike lasted this long.

He said, “You are lucky to have me, a medical doctor and health system manager here as the Minister of Labour and Employment. So, when the matter came, the issues are clear to me.

“The previous NARD leadership hoarded information from your members. Instead, things wouldn’t have degenerated. There is no need being pugilistic. We know that we have opposition to our government. It doesn’t mean that if we are doing something right, we should not be praised.

“If the former NARD leadership were not playing politics, they should have reported well to their members, especially after the intervention of the Elders Forum of which the President and Secretary-General of NARD were members.”