 Great to have you back once again on the breakfast here on plus TV Africa Our next conversation is going to be on the national association of resident doctors who of course have announced a strike You know action starting from today and this is with the failure of the government to respond to their demands after 113 days notice was given they of course had mentioned the memorandum of action that was signed by the federal government You know which of course once again has not has been ignored. We're speaking this morning with the second vice president N. A. R. D Dr. Chokou Juma Ejofo who's joining us from Inugu. Good morning, Dr. Jofo. Thanks for joining us. Good morning, Dr All right, let's start with the details of the memorandum of understanding And how far the federal government was able to go with with those memorandum of action and make up Was there any of these details that the federal government actually did? You know You know do as they promised Okay, quite unfortunately The federal government has not kept to any of the promises Our MOU has been played. It's been a sensitive for many years And it's talking about welfare of doctors in my period, resident doctors in my period By resident doctors, I mean Resident doctors, house officers and medical officers, you know the route of personal medical abuse, loss in residence So far the federal government has not kept to even one of our agreement understanding and We are forced to come here again to tell the Algerians this is a precudious situation and it's unfortunate again that hospitals will be shut down because the government does not want to take these responsibilities serious Health is wealth, you see, but they have another plan and we're back to you again Dr. Jaffa, I Want us to get clarity as to You know what role the announcement by the Lagos state government to stop the enrollment of intent into the NHIS You know has to do with the strike because the papers are reporting that that's what triggered the strike. Is that so? That is not true the Lagos state the government allows that was removing house hospitals from the civil service team and That is that should not happen We will head where they want to give a proper doctor's 15,000 error and we asked ourselves what exactly is the minimum wage all about Where you want to say doctor 15,000 there for what we want That's so many things People are crazy like you. Yeah, I don't know why they just want problem So what are the demands of the National Association of Resident Doctors for these? Staff to be paid the minimum wage of 30,000 error or higher and if I what exactly are you looking at? No on that we haven't ever started with caution But this is just this is just a new development and our demands as a new situation or land Has always been About our welfare about the medical resistance training program I'm making sure that the act itself which is the law in Nigeria is domesticated Those are trying to make sure that we have debt in service insurance So trying to upgrade the hazard allowance, which has been 5,000 Naira for more than a decade right now it's easy for one to appropriate at the 30 billion Naira plus for a leaking roof in La Bouga Another was simply but bring out some little money after doctors for the Nigeria. It's a problem It's not for safety and we're talking about brain drain in Nigeria Which doctor would you pay 15,000 Naira in Lagos state and you want to save in Nigeria? We don't have a brain drain anymore We have a brain storm And it's so annoying That I know that one day is a country people will wake up and you will not see doctors in Nigeria House housemanship is not being offered in the United Kingdom We're after a year of training. They are GMC satisfied What business with our young men and women our young brothers who are doctors have coming back to that day Stop doing abroad for any doctor. It's not easy. You're leaving friends and family You have to have Christmas with your father your parents die you have to come for their very life It's not as easy Yeah, I wanted to ask, you know in the 113 days, you know since the strike was called off Was there any interaction, you know, was there any reminders sent to the Nigerian government to let them know that none of their promises have been fulfilled The one of the papers this morning is saying that the government is not aware of any strike notice even from the Naira Dean So have there been interactions in between that were also ignored just to remind the government that they haven't fulfilled any of the promises in the Memorandum of action that was signed It's quite a pity that I don't believe those in government have actually lie lastly lie There have been series of for series Even if I send them the last one less than two with the president of that the first best president and Dr. Julian and we talked at length you know We seem to be having challenges with the clarity of picture and sound there from dr. Joe for Hope that we can quickly reconnect with him You know as we keep up with the this conversation from what he's saying they have been reminders they have been you know Interactions with the NIRD leadership and the federal government over time And still nothing was done and it's pretty much, you know the same thing, you know with us too with you know Sanu with you know, you know the polytechnic Trust also and doctors, you know, it feels like it's the same, you know motors up around the every time You know, there's some agreement the strike is called off all suspended, you know We wait for two months three months and you know strike is called back again because well government hasn't been able to fulfill these promises You know, and it makes you really question and I hope that we will be able to speak with you know, the Government and your government Representative here it makes you really question what the priorities are every time, you know with the Nigerian government What exactly are biggest priorities? What exactly are the things that we as a country, you know find, you know Really really important the doctors need to be paid higher the doctors deserve higher You know has that allowance the doctors need better facilities in the hospitals and this includes, you know Both the federal and at the state level because there's also certain states that are that are owing doctors for you know Between nine to 12 months You know about four about three or four states, you know that our own doctors So it's both on the federal and on the state level that these conversations need to be had what really are the priorities For the Nigerian government with regard to health care. Dr. Joe for welcome back. Can you hear us? All right, we apologize those are some challenges with the clarity there But go ahead, you know, you were saying that there have been interactions with the NIRD and the Nigerian government It's all about promises still This will be done that should be done. That should be done. And in the long run, it's still nothing It's probably a hundred days Since April 1st that the previous fact that it and let us also remember that that's what was called off Because it's very high right so that the government comes to us and set it in track. I see how far you can go And we called up on that and because Nigerians were suffering Oh, we're back back again And this time around I think the majority push Ask the government this question. Do they want Nigerians to die? Is health not important in a country like Dr. Jaffa Can you hear me dr. Jaffa? Yes, can you tell us a bit about the medical residency training act of 2017 what exactly? Does it stay and why are some states having challenges with domestic hate in it? the medical risk training act is It is the law that depict the way Training of doctors should be in Nigeria those in residence In good. I mean, it's it's a page of age booklet That that explains the workings of the train And this was necessary because there was so much Irregularity in this particular aspect of that difference in Nigeria So the the leaders of doctors in Nigeria with a lot of medical doctors called for this act And this was drawn up This has been signed into law. Like I said In March, this is a law of the federal government Why can't the law be today? Why can't we? We are the ones at times when you see things go Sorry, and then we don't know what next you even if it's just a law Which is not you know big by the same government Exactly dr. Jaffa isn't that the the the requirements there, you know in that act, you know at two at too much You know too challenging for the states to implement because I'm trying to find out why exactly or what exactly is the Challenge with domesticated that act that simply says that resident doctors should be treated better But this law is And it should be domesticated for doctors to be able to You know work With that job affection that they require But whatever reason you have a lot of states being put more than 18 months salary It will go beyond that Because of doctors people take some later in life. These are the problems We still don't understand what really is up to the ball. Don't take your phone. That's a doctor's That is bad. Yeah, we're currently of course, I guess, you know in third wave of COVID-19 Lagos recorded 519 cases yesterday, I believe or and so it should be scary for a lot of people With regards to health, you know crisis that Nigeria might be getting into if the third wave is not properly managed what is the fate of People that might be falling ill this period. Is there any help that it can still get in the hospitals while the Resident doctors are on strike I Think I think our national leaders need to look at the place the national of place Actually reading and inviting You don't come and say I expect that you are my country to be safe for them and others to stop Nigeria They are not starting Nigeria. Nigeria's are something doctors are something The people will still suffer We are doctors. We're still part of it Our parents are still part of it So it's it's confusing at times when there's that lack of response and Of the government and we keep wondering why is it that they do they really want people to die? I don't understand Okay, we are right now. This track isn't This photo is indefinite The government is and he was preventable right from the very start Right from the very start. So tiny preventable, but you see where we are Okay, so what do you think the doctors might be feeling right now seeing that they gave ample time a 113 days for the government to take action, but they didn't so how do you think you know the doctors might be taking it? well We actually For me as a person, I can't speak for the other but there's that There's that confusion as to what I'm I'm still doing in Nigeria first of all But I'm here because of the truth and I want things to work This is a bit really stuff at this mouth and Then The the thought of having a loved one died because of the government and not to the need school Is a scary thing? My mother is here. You know, it's above 70 If you should contract the code is now what happened? Most of them have lost their parents Who could be the last thing? It's clear it play a present danger That the government does not seem to want to understand Nobody involves Criticistic order like mad in policy permission How can someone say a doctor who had 15,000 liras in this function? Let's ask ourselves questions Nigeria should be very angry at this point We are tired of being angry With bed with adjoins, we've done everything we have to do I want you to do that And now we're on strike once more So what would it take for nudge to call off the strike? I mean you tried it before you went on a strike. There were discussions the government, you know bridge those You know What they signed the MOA and now you're back on strike. So what would it take? For a nudge to call off the strike Unfortunately The decision to go on strike And it just concluded National It was quite unanimous And as the National Officers Committee We have been participated That everything that we have asked for for years Must be fulfilled Whatever So anxious to even talk to anybody right And that's the truth Because you said the same thing over and over again To the same people You cannot do something the same way and expect a different result It doesn't happen But Dr. Jaffa We understand where you're coming from But just to also put this in perspective Do you know the people that would suffer Because we're talking about ordinary Nigerians Who are just struggling to leave above the poverty line And the politicians Whose attention we're trying to get Can afford medical care out of the country So how do you think the strike really You know affects everyday Nigerians? Well very remind that I am also An everyday Nigerian like you are And other doctors in this country Are also everyday Nigerians Like the rest of the people are It is something that is affecting All of us equally Nigerians have to speak up They have to get up They have to write They have to go on a It's not whatever the doctors go on strike They say you are You don't know if you can put Yes We know to put And we said that you have pledged Every morning Our leader came to Nigerian pledge Every morning Everybody took our food To mention this country works Let everybody Put his or her hands down And get this country to work Health is wealth Without health In dead man we ask our master line In dead man cannot be on TV We have to speak The health system in this country Together That is where you have to come out Even you report us in this video You have to speak up Everybody has to be on the board Dr. Choukou Jamma IGFOR second vice president NARD thank you so much For your time this morning We hope that there is more conversations And the government actually steps up to These discussions and Takes action where necessary To of course prevent further Discussions on Nigerians Thank you very much for your time this morning Thanks for speaking with us Thank you very much Absolutely and that's where we wrap up The conversation this morning We hope that we can of course bring you Further discussions on the APC And of course it's what congresses That took place over the weekend In later editions of the breakfast For now it's goodbye And if you missed out on any of these conversations Remember it's simply at YouTube channel at Plus TV Africa And yes We're also having a YouTube channel You can't stop saying that until you subscribe It's at Plus TV Africa Lifestyle I am Adnetta Felix Thanking you for joining us And I am Osao Gi Albaoang