Justice John Targema of the National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja who issued the ruling on Monday August 23, had said; “Having looked especially at the affidavit of extreme urgency, the grounds of the application, the affidavit in support of the 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, it is hereby ordered that the claimant/applicant and the defendant/respondent suspend all forms of hostilities forthwith pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice. This matter is accordingly adjourned to September 15, 2021 for hearing of the motion on notice and/or any other pending application. The hearing notice and the originating processes be issued and served on the defendant/respondent. Proof of service of the same should be filed in the case file before the adjourned date.”

However the association’s National President, Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi in an interview with Punch after the court order, said the association had not received any order and would therefore not suspend the industrial action.

Okhuaihesuyi said; “We have not received any order; we only saw the news on social media. We will not be resuming work.”

The NARD has also threatened to impose a fine of N5m on any of its branches that fail to join the strike.

It also said branches found wanting would not be able to hold any national position for the next two years.

The President of NARD, Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi disclosed the directive to doctors at the isolation centres, the threat to impose an N5m fine on errant branches was contained in an internal memo sent out to members by the National Executive Council of the association.

On April 1, there were reports that members of the association at the COVID-19 isolations did not join the strike on compassionate grounds.

But the internal memo of the association threatened to impose an N5m fine on any branch that shunned the strike.

It read in part, “NARD affirms her commitment to the welfare of all members. All members of NARD will be levied the sum of N2, 500 as a strike levy for the smooth prosecution of the industrial action. Penalty for any centre that sabotages the industrial action will be payment of a fine of N5m and suspension from holding any NARD national officers committee positions for two years.”

Meanwhile, it was learnt that the strike, which entered its fifth day on Monday, might be taking its toll on the COVID-19 response. Okhuaihesuyi said doctors at the isolation centres, who are their members, were asked to join the strike because of the importance of this particular industrial action.

He said “I know some people may think we are selfish but this strike is about improving the health sector and improving service delivery,”

The NARD President, however, said consultant doctors should be able to handle emergencies at the isolation centres for now.

NARD comprises over 40 per cent of the total number of doctors in Nigeria. There are some 42,000 doctors in Nigeria, out of which 16,000 are resident doctors – medical school graduates training as specialists.