THE National Association of Resident Doctors has said the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria does not have the right to stop house officers from joining its ongoing strike.
The association’s position was contained in a statement jointly signed by its National President, Dr. Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi; and Secretary, Dr. Jerry Isogun.
The statement titled, ‘Press release’ was made available to journalists on Wednesday in Abuja.
NARD dismissed the threat by the MDCN that house officers, who joined the ongoing nationwide strike, would be sacked or made to repeat their internship, describing the threat as an expensive joke and imagination of one man.
Recall that the Registrar of MDCN, Dr. T.A.B Sanusi, had in a statement on Monday said house officers who embarked on strike would be reposted with no pay.
But NARD urged the MDCN to stick to its limit of influence as contained in the Act establishing it and avoid dabbling into union matters that were beyond its purview.
The statement read, “NARD and members are operating within the confines of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Labour laws of our dear country.
“The MDCN has a humongous task of regulating medical practice amidst a population laden with quackery, which he has not been able to solve and thus should stick to it. There are still some of our members (house officers) who are being owed salaries in spite of being on the MDCN house officers’ platform.
“We are amazed that in spite of these loopholes and flaws in the system MDCN is managing, it still finds time to chase shadows about how doctors express their constitutional right to associate,” it stated.
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