THE Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its seven-day warning strike, which started on Monday, August 26, to draw attention to the continued detention of its abducted member, Dr. Ganiyat Popoola.
Recall that the Federal Government had threatened to evoke the ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy on members of the association.
At the end of its extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held virtually on Sunday, August 30, the association announced the resolution to suspend the strike, while closely monitoring developments and engaging stakeholders to secure the immediate release of Popoola.
The communique, signed by its President, Dr. Dele Abdullahi Olaitan; Secretary General, Dr. Anaduaka Christopher Obinna, and the Public and Social Secretary, Dr. Egbe John Jonah, said the NEC : “The NEC had agreed that work would resume at all centres nationwide by 8a.m. on Monday, September 2.
NARD added that NEC also agreed to reconvene in three weeks to reappraise the situation, saying it had noted the increased level of awareness media engagement had brought to the case of Popoola-Olawale.
It expressed appreciation for the engagement and intervention by different government agencies and their renewed commitment to bring back the kidnapped doctor.
Recall that Popoola-Olawale was abducted on Wednesday, December 27, last year, at the senior staff quarters of the National Eye Centre in Kaduna, along with her husband, Squadron Leader Nurudeen Popoola, and his nephew, Folaranmi Abdul-Mugniy, a student of Air Force Technology Institute (AFIT) who lived with them.
But after several efforts and negotiations, the husband was released on March 7, this year, while the medical doctor and Folaranmi remain in the kidnappers den.
