Strike: Court invites resident doctors as group seeks restraining order. Agency Report

The National Industrial Court, Abuja, on Thursday invited the striking doctors by directing a Non-Governmental Organisation seeking a restraining order, to place them on motion on notice. The NGO, Incorporated Trustees of Kingdom Human Rights Foundation International, through an ex-parte application had prayed that the court should order the striking doctors under the aegis of National Association of Resident Doctors, who embarked on the industrial action on August 2, back to work. The vacation judge, Justice John Targema, after listening to the application in his ruling however said, “I have carefully considered the processes filed by the Applicant herein. “I have 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. “By Order 17, Rule 14 ( 5) of NICN proceedings 2017, this court can make or refuse to make the order sought, or may direct the motion to be made on notice to the parties affected. “The affected parties ought to be put on notice before a trial court grants a restraining order, when a trial court makes an order of restraint exparte, the order is made in breach of the provisions of section 33 (1) of the 1999 Constitution ( as amended). “Having considered the arguments of learned counsel for the Applicant and the law as stated, I am inclined to invite the defendants/respondents on grounds of fair hearing,” the judge ruled. The judge in addition ordered that the motion be made on notice to the parties affected by the application. He also directed that hearing notice be issued, served on the defendants and proof of service of the motion on notice and all originating processes on the defendants be filed in the case file before the next adjourned date. Targema concluded by saying that the said date shall be determined by the president of the court who will reassign the file and both parties would be notified accordingly. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that preceding the court ruling, the Applicant through an ex parte application challenged the on-going industrial action, which according to them had crippled the health sector. The Executive Director of the NGO, Kingdom Okere, had sought an order compelling and mandating the striking members of NARD to immediately suspend their ongoing strike, resume duties on ground that the strike now constituted national health emergency and amounts to denial of access to health care to Nigerians. Joined in the suit as co-defendants are NARD chairman, Uyilawa Okhuaihesuya; Incorporated Trustees of Nigerian Medical and Dental Association, Minister of Health. Others are Federal Ministry of Health, Minister of Labour and Productivity and Attorney General of the Federation/ Minister of Justice (NAN)