The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has rejected the new memorandum of understanding (MoU) presented by the federal government.

NARD national president, Okhuaihesuyi Uyilawa, made this known while addressing newsmen at the end of a closed door meeting with the federal government and other relevant stakeholders on Sunday in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

“We rejected the MoU, we didn’t sign it because we feel we are being punished for the failures of those in government,” Mr Uyilawa said.

Resident doctors had embarked on an indefinite strike on April 1 over unpaid salaries, allowances, and other concerns affecting their members.

The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) led the striking doctors to a meeting summoned at the instance of the President Muhammadu Buhari regime and aimed at resolving the ongoing strike by doctors across the country.

It would also be recalled that the minister of labour and employment, Chris Ngige, had on August 13, handed over the trade dispute between the federal government and NARD to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria for adjudication.

According to Mr Uyilawa, NARD had refused to sign the MoU that was brokered by its parent body, the NMA, and the federal government due to an undisclosed clause.

The NARD leadership said that while they would present the new MoU to their members to decide on whether to sign the document or not, the ongoing nationwide strike would continue and that they would proceed with the court case.

On his part, Mr Ngige said that all other unions in the negotiation including the NMA and the Medical and Dental Consultants of Nigeria have signed the new agreement.

He noted that the meeting did not discuss the issue of ‘No Work No Pay’ but that all parties at the meeting agreed to an out-of-court settlement.