[News] Court orders resident doctors to suspend strike

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has been ordered by the National Industrial Court, Abuja division, to suspend its nationwide strike.

The judgement was passed after the federal government filed a lawsuit against the association, asking the court for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining members of NARD from continuing with the industrial action.

Justice John Targema in his ruling on Monday August 23, 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.”

Targema said;

“Having 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.

“It is hereby ordered that claimant/applicant and the defendant/respondent suspend all forms of hostilities forthwith pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”

The Judge who ordered that a hearing notice be issued and other processes be served on the defendant, including the originating summons,  adjourned the matter to September 15 for a hearing of the motion on notice and/or any other pending application on its merit.

Targema also said that the proof of service should be kept in the case file before the next adjourned date.