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Resident Doctors Issue 21-Day Ultimatum …As NARD Ends Warning Strike

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Barely 24 hours after the three-day warning strike embarked upon by members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) was called off, members of the association  have given the Rivers State Government a 21-day ultimatum to implement agreement reached with the association in the state.
The nationwide warning strike was commenced last Monday.
The Rivers State Chairman of the association Dr. James Krukrubo restated the 21-day ultimatium to the government while speaking to The Tide in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
He said the state government has failed to implement amicable agreement reached with the association in March 2014 over the demands of the association.
The Chairman said the situation in most government hospitals in the state has not changed, stressing that the association has no choice than to issue 21-day notice to the government to fulfil the agreement.
Krukrubo said, at the expiration of the ultimatum, resident doctors would not hesitate to embark on an industrial action to compel the state government to meet their demands.
NARD yesterday resumed work after a three-day warning strike to draw government’s attention to issues affecting its members.
Our correspondent reports that members of the association embarked on the strike over agitation for residency training, re-integration of its members into the IPPIS and payment of salary arrears owed doctors at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri.
Another issue in contention is the failure to implement the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).
Dr Jibril Abdullahi, National President of NARD, confirmed to newsmen that the doctors had resumed work nationwide.
He expressed hope that the Federal Government would resolve the issues in the next 25 days, adding that the association would embark on indefinite strike in July if the issues were unresolved.
“NARD is hereby giving the government of Nigeria a grace period of up to the end of June to resolve these issues.
“Otherwise, we will have no option than to withdraw our services from July,’’ he said.
Abdullahi said a meeting had been fixed for June 17 between NARD, the Federal Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Budget Office and Salaries and Wages Commission.
“Depending on what the government presents to us on that date, we will decide whether to suspend or go on with our indefinite strike,’’ he said.
Abdullahi said that government had in response to its demands, made part payment of the outstanding salaries of its members at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, and hoped that it would complete the payments.
“It is not our desire to go on strike; all we want is progress,’’ he said.
Dr Frank Nwanodu, NARD’s branch President at the National Hospital, Abuja, told newsmen that the doctors resumed work at 8.00 a.m. yesterday.
Nwanodu, however, called on the federal government to resolve all pending issues with the association.
“We really do not like to go on strike; all we are asking for is what is due to us,’’ he said.

 

Philip Okparaji

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NAFDAC Alerts Nigerians To EU Ban On Dex Soap

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The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has alerted Nigerians on the ban on Dex Luxury Bar Soap (No 6 Mystic Flower), by the European Union (EU).
The notification is contained in a public alert with No. 012/2024, signed by NAFDAC Director-General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, and issued to newsmen in Abuja yesterday.
“The product does not comply with the cosmetic products regulation; it also contains Butyphenyl Methylpropional (BMHCA), which is prohibited in cosmetic products due to its risk of harming the reproductive system.
“It also causes harm to the health of unborn children and may cause skin sensitisation.
“It is as a result of the defective nature of the product that the EU banned it.
“The products is not in NAFDAC database; importers, distributors, retailers and consumers are to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain,” she said.
NAFDAC boss urged marketers and consumers to avoid the importation, distribution, sale and use of the product, stressing that product’s authenticity and physical condition must be carefully checked.
She enjoined members of the public in possession of the product to discontinue sale or use, and submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office.

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Communities, Volunteers Ready To Face Upcoming Floods – Red Cross

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The Country Manager of the British Red Cross in Nigeria, Karsten Voigt, says communities and volunteers are ready to face the challenges expected with the upcoming floods.
Voigt said this at the sidelines of the 56th Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), Lagos Branch.
The Tide’s source recalls that the British Red Cross donated resilience items to some communities in December 2023, to help mitigate the effects of flooding.
The items included cash, rain boots, rain coats, mosquito nets, handheld flashlights, solar powered lights with radio, USB chargers and a bridge to link the communities.
The communities that benefited included Agboyi 1, Agboyi 2, Agboyi 3 and Odo Ogun in Kosofe Local Government Area of the state.
Voigt said the Red Cross had measured the impact of the project in the communities and noticed that a lot of progress had been made.
According to him, apart from the cash and items given to the communities, simulation exercises have also been carried out to prepare the volunteers ahead of the floods.
“We have seen that people used the cash to address immediate needs they have after floods.
“Many households have used part of the cash to build up businesses.
“The solutions we have given to them are not only addressing their immediate needs after the disaster but actually building family income for their future,” he said.

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Nimet Forecasts Three-Day Sunshine, Thunderstorms

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The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted sunshine and thunderstorm from Monday to Wednesday across the country.
NiMet’s weather outlook released yesterday in Abuja, forecasts sunny skies on Monday with a few patches of cloud over the northern cities and prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Taraba later in the day.
According to the forecast, sunny skies with patches of clouds are expected over the North Central region with prospects of morning thunderstorm over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Kogi and Kwara States.
“Later in the day, isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Kogi and Benue States.
“The southern region is expected to be cloudy with spells of sunshine with prospects of morning thunderstorms over parts of Oyo, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo and Lagos States.
“ In the afternoon/evening periods, isolated thunderstorms are expected over parts of Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, Ekiti, Ogun, Imo, Oyo, Ondo, Edo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Rivers, Lagos and Bayelsa States,” it said.
NiMet also anticipated sunny skies on Tuesday with few patches of cloud over the northern states with prospects of isolated thunderstorms envisaged over parts of Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba and Kaduna States during the afternoon and evening hours.
It envisaged the North Central region to be sunny with patches of cloud during the morning hours.
The agency also envisaged isolated thunderstorms over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kogi, Benue, Kwara and Niger States, later in the day.
“Cloudy atmosphere with intervals of sunshine is expected over the inland and coastal areas of the South, with chances of morning thunderstorm over parts of Cross River, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Rivers States.
“In the afternoon/evening periods, isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Abia, Oyo, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Rivers and Bayelsa States ,” it said.
It predicted a sunny atmosphere on Wednesday, with patches of cloud over the northern region, during the forecast period.
“Sunny skies with patches of clouds are expected over the North Central region with chances of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Plateau, Kogi, Nasarawa, the Federal Capital Territory and Benue States, during the afternoon/evening periods.
“ Cloudy atmosphere with intervals of sunshine is expected over the inland and coastal areas of the South with prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi and Abia.”
Other states to experience cloudy atmosphere, are “Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, Oyo, Cross River, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa States, later in the day.”
NiMet urged the public to take adequate precaution as strong winds might precede rains in areas where thunderstorms were likely to occur.
The agency also urged airline operators to get updated weather reports and forecasts from its office for effective planning in their operations.

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