Doctors Remain Sacked – Health Minister

Doctors in Nigeria’s public sector have called off their 2-month long strike but this has apparently not swayed the federal government’s decision to sack them.

Health Minister, Onyebuchi Chukwu said that the government has not gone back on its decision to sack the doctors despite reports that they had resumed work.

Chukwu stated this after the weekly Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting. He said:

“Residency programme was suspended by the federal government, meaning they have been disengaged. It is true that over the weekend we read in the papers that the Nigerian Medical Association has called off the strike. But we are yet to see any letter communicating that to us.

We will move forward when we get a letter from NMA suspending the strike, then the minister of health will advise Mr. President, so for now residency programme remains suspended,”

The doctors went on strike on July 1 and vowed to stay off work until their demands were met.