Reps postpone plenary resumption, Abuja doctors end strike
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Lawmakers in the House of Representatives have shifted the resumption of plenary from January 28 to February 4 to enable various committees conclude ongoing budget defence by ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
However, doctors in Abuja’s public hospital are expected to resume duty on January 25 after their warning strike that began on January 22 over poor pay, inadequate facilities and welfare package.
A statement issued on Friday by House spokesperson Akin Rotimi said the change in plenary resumption date has been communicated to members through an internal memorandum issued by House Cler Yahaya Danzaria on the directive of the House Leadership.
Rotimi explained that the postponement is to give committees sufficient time to conclude budget engagements and defences with MDAs, per Daily Trust.
“This measure ensures a thorough and comprehensive approach to legislative responsibilities.
“The House remains committed to fulfilling its legislative mandate for the benefit of Nigerians and appreciates the understanding of all stakeholders,” the statement said.
Minimal services in Abuja hospitals
Patients who visited public hospitals in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were turned back on Thursday because of the doctors’ strike over seven months’ unpaid salaries of their members employed in 2023 and other grouses.
Daily Trust reported going round some hospitals and seeing how other health workers were managing the situation to avoid total collapse.
A number of patients were reportedly turned back on arrival, while those with emergency cases were attended to before they were referred to private health centres under the federal government.
One of the health workers, who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity, lamented that services have been slow since the beginning of the strike that is billed to last until Saturday.
Before the strike, he explained, each doctor attended to between 60 and 70 patients daily while consultants (who are not part of the strike) attended to between five and 10 patients with special cases.
“But now, when they are needed critically, none of them is available, it’s only nurses and locum doctors on duty that are intervening,’’ he added.
Sylvester Ajayi, a patient who walked with the support of crutches at Kubwa General Hospital, said he felt bad to have visited the facility during the strike.
The situation is almost the same at other hospitals visited or contacted, with the exception of the General Hospital in Bwari where an official sent the following message through WhatsApp:
“In our hospital, we’re working, clinical activities are going on especially, the emergency cases done by the consultants. And you know nurses are not on strike. Most of the work is being managed by them.’’
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