THE National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja on Friday, ordered the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors to return to work.
The medical doctors are restrained from continuing with the ongoing strike pending the determination of the substantive suit before it.
The court held that there is no amount of money that will compensate for the loss of lives in the circumstances.
Justice Bashar Alkali made the order while ruling on an application by the Federal Government in the suit against NARD.
The Federal Government’s lawyer, Tochukwu Maduka (SAN), had moved his motion for interlocutory injunction, and prayed the court for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendant from continuing with the industrial action pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
He also prayed the court to compel the members of NARD nationwide to return to their duty posts pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The resident doctor’s lawyer, Robinson Ariyo, vehemently opposed the application for interlocutory injunction and urged the court to discountenance their application.
He argued that the life of a medical doctor is not less useful than the life an average human being.
He argued that justice must be balanced, not just to the government, but also to the doctors who are the field marshals in the face of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
