Court Orders Resident Doctors To Suspend Strike

The National Industrial Court, Abuja division, has ordered
the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to
suspend its nationwide strike.
The doctors had commenced the strike on August 1 over
“irregular payment of salaries”, among other issues.
Efforts by the house of representatives to mediate
between the federal government and NARD ended in a
deadlock.
The federal government then instituted a suit against the
association, asking the court for an order of interlocutory
injunction restraining the doctors from continuing with the
industrial action.
Ruling on the ex parte application on Monday, John
Targema, the judge, asked all parties in the suit to
suspend all forms of hostilities and maintain status quo
pending the hearing and determination of the motion on
notice.
He said: “Having looked especially on the affidavit of
extreme urgency, the grounds of the application, the
affidavit in support of same and arguments of counsel for
the applicant. I also weighed the submissions and
arguments of counsel on the law as it stands on this
application.
“It is hereby ordered that claimant/applicant and the
defendant/respondent suspend all forms of hostilities
forthwith pending the hearing and determination of the
motion on notice.”
The judge further ordered that a hearing notice be issued
and other processes be served on the defendant, including
the originating summons. He also added that that the
proof of service should be kept in the case file before the
next adjourned date.
Targema adjourned the matter to September 15 for a
hearing of the motion on notice and/or any other pending
application on its merit.