Rep. Tanko Sunumu, chairman of the House Committee on Health, said on Tuesday that the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) strike may be called off before the end of the week.

The chairman authorized the Ministry of Health to begin paying doctors’ outstanding wages as well as their residency training funding for the years 2020 and 2021, as asked by the protesting doctors, to end the strike as quickly as possible.

He spoke at the National Assembly in the committee meeting with Olaronumbe Mammora, the Minister of State for Health, and the NARD leadership.

Ben Akabueze, the Director-General of the Federation’s Budget Office, told lawmakers that a sum of N5.42 billion naira set aside for residency training in 2020 and 2021 was ready and would be paid provided the proper procedures were followed.

The parliamentarians unanimously directed the relevant government offices to promptly commence payment methods in order to end the strike.

The committee chairman had complained over the suffering of Nigerians as a result of the strike, asking that everything possible is done to get the striking doctors back to work.

Read More: Residents Doctors To Begin Nationwide Strike On Mondayhttps://agnesisika.com/resident-doctors-to-begin-nationwide-strike-on-monday/

So as to put a stop to the periodic strikes in the country, the lawmakers also ordered the ministry of health and the federation budget office to allocate sufficient budgets for doctors in the country.

NARD chairman, Uyilawa Okhuaihesuya said the strike will remain until the money is paid saying, “Let everybody suffer the brain drain.”

He also added that If 2015 and 2016 pays and promotion which amounts to N28 billion are not paid, the strike will continue, warning the committee.

The committee and minister asked the NARD chief to retract his statement, portraying it as an ominous threat to the government.

Okhuaihesuya later apologized for making the statement, saying he was overcome by his emotions.