The Federal Government has appealed to the members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to call off their seven-day warning strike, News About Nigeria reports.
The Minister of State for Health, Dr Tunji Alausa, made this call while speaking during a visit to the National Eye Centre on Thursday in Kaduna.
He noted that negotiations are currently ongoing to ensure the safety of their kidnapped colleague, Dr Ganiyat Popoola, adding that the Federal Government and security agencies are working hard to rescue Popoola.
Recall that the members of the association began a seven-day warning strike to push for the rescue of a Kaduna-based doctor, Dr Ganiyat Popoola.
Popoola, a staff member of the centre, was kidnapped in December 2023 and has now spent about nine months in the kidnappers’ den.
The Minister, however, stated that they have been on talking terms with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, regarding the issue, and maintained that everyone is working hard to secure the release of the abducted doctor.
He also disclosed that he had held a meeting on Monday with the leadership of NARD over the situation to convince them to call off the strike because it would worsen the situation.
He said, “We are on top of the matter and have been on talking terms with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, regarding the issue.
“I have spoken with the Commissioner of Police, and everyone is working hard to see that she is released.
“We don’t believe this warning strike will do anything. All hands are on deck to secure her release.
“For the past two days, we know she is alive, and that’s good news for us as the security is working hard to bring her back alive.”
