The decision is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of an emergency National Executive Council, NEC, meeting held virtually on Saturday.

The communiqué was signed by the president, Dr Mohammad Suleiman; the Secretary-General, Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim; and the Publicity and Social Secretary, Dr Abdulmajid Ibrahim.

According to the communiqué, the suspension followed high-level engagements with key government officials and stakeholders.

NARD said that the NEC meeting reviewed the outcomes of interventions by the vice president, as well as the ministers of Health, Labour, and Finance.

It also considered engagements with key agencies, including the Budget Office, the Office of the Accountant General, and IPPIS.

Other stakeholders involved in the engagements included the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, and the Department of State Services, DSS, among others in the health and public service sectors.

The association noted that its earlier decision to embark on a total and indefinite strike arose from the federal government’s reversal of the implementation of the reviewed Professional Allowance Table, PAT, and other welfare concerns.

However, it observed that the decision to halt the implementation of the reviewed PAT had been reversed, with implementation expected to reflect in April salaries and subsequent months.

The NEC also noted that the federal government had renewed its commitment to the payment of all outstanding promotion arrears and salary arrears owed to resident doctors in affected institutions nationwide.

According to the communiqué, initial approval has been secured for the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund, MRTF, with a firm commitment to conclude and finalise the disbursement process.

The council further noted that the Budget Office had indicated readiness to commence the process for the payment of the outstanding 19 months’ arrears of the professional allowance.

However, it expressed deep concern over the continued delay in the payment of house officers’ salaries, describing the situation as persistent and requiring urgent attention.

On the basis of these developments, the NEC resolved to suspend the proposed strike action, noting that progress would be reviewed at its May Ordinary General Meeting scheduled to be held in Kano.

The association demanded sustained implementation of the reviewed PAT as reflected in April salaries and in subsequent months.

It also called for the prompt payment of all outstanding promotion arrears and salary arrears, in line with the federal government’s renewed commitments to resident doctors.

NARD further demanded the expedited conclusion and full disbursement of the 2026 MRTF following the initial approval already secured.

The council called for the immediate commencement and timely completion of the process for the payment of the outstanding 19 months’ arrears of the allowance.

It also urged the convening of an urgent stakeholders’ meeting to address and resolve the delay in the payment of house officers’ salaries.

NARD added that it would continue to monitor implementation closely and take further decisions based on progress made before its next statutory meeting.

Source: NAN

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Zulum made this known on Thursday while addressing delegates at the state governorship primaries where he emerged unopposed as APC governorship candidate for 2023.

The governor, however, said he preferred to remain governor of Borno to focus on his programmes for the state than go for the position of vice president.

“As you all know, the APC will be holding presidential primaries coming weekend.

“I have seen all kinds of promotional media content, including articles by notable columnists, associating me with the 2023 presidency.

“Let me reveal with apologies, that some close associates of key presidential aspirants have sent me offers for the position of running mate, as possible Vice President, depending on the outcome of the APC presidential primaries by the weekend.

“I have thought deeply about these offers because becoming Vice President is considered attractive.

“I have thought about all the powers and privileges of being VP. I can see the honour of presiding over meetings attended by governors and ministers and the privilege of having a presidential jet at one’s disposal. I can see the honour of presidential receptions within and outside Nigeria.

“However, I have asked myself, that should I get the opportunity to become VP and raise my political profile, what happens to all our ongoing works for the people of Borno State?

“We have built more than 10, 000 houses and currently more of such and reconstructing existing ones, for ongoing resettlement of our people. We have resettled more than 20 communities so far.

“Yet, thousands of our fellow citizens are still homeless and in desperate need of food, water and healthcare.

“We have adopted a development plan that we are already implementing. I have asked myself, what happens to all these plans that I am central to, which are helping to fast track our recovery in Borno State?

“Ladies and gentlemen, the killings in Kala-Balge at the weekend made me more critical and the incident seriously reminded me of the challenges that are still ahead of us in Borno State.

“I came to the conclusion that while a chance to become Vice President could benefit my profile as an individual, becoming re-elected as Governor of Borno State has the potential of more overall and more assurance of benefit to the good people of Borno State.

“I therefore say that while I thank those who may be considering me for the position of VP, I prefer to stay back and work drastically for the people of Borno State because for me as a citizen of Borno State, working with others to hastily rebuild Borno State is the most urgent need and it is beyond any aspiration,” Zulum said.

Source: NAN

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Vice President Yemi Osinbajo made this disclosure while performing the official ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the plant in Kajola, Ogun State, on Saturday.

“The plant which is a private investment to be undertaken by Messrs CCECC, is central in the production of rolling stock, spare parts and maintenance of equipment needed for the railway modernisation programme being implemented by this administration.

“This ceremony is not just another event, it is a historic turning point. For us, the railway is not only an alternative and comfortable mode of travel.

“It holds the master key to transforming commerce in Nigeria and across the continent. By linking our ports to rail lines and now, building the rolling stock locally, import and export business within, into and out of Africa’s largest market will never be the same.

“When completed, it is expected that the plant would produce some parts of the wagons for the Lagos-Ibadan and Abuja-Kaduna rail lines, but also for the central rail lines and to satisfy the needs of other rail operators within the West- African sub-region.

“The plant would offer an important platform for engineers, technicians, artisans and other professionals to gain the specialised skills required for the production and maintenance of rolling stock.

“This will invariably conduce to spin-off businesses in the region of operation and across the country wherever rail networks are in existence.

“The plant is expected to generate about five thousand (5,000) direct and indirect jobs,” Osinbajo said.

According to him, the siting of the plant here in Nigeria and the commitment to hiring Nigerians and Nigerian businesses affirms the presidents directives in Executive Order 5.

The vice president said that the Order was prioritising Nigerians and Nigerian businesses in the innovation, production and procurement of engineering projects and services.

He added that plant would offer an important platform for engineers, technicians, artisans, and other professionals to gain specialised skills required for the production and maintenance of the rolling stock.

According to Osinbajo, the message from President to CCECC was that the company should move “very quickly to the next phase of this project, which is the assembly and construction of coaches and locomotives.”

“This, for us will be a significant breakthrough and we look forward to hearing from you as quickly as possible when this will come to operation as well,” he said.

Osinbajo highlighted that the federal government after completing Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge rail line in 2016, moved to Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail line construction in 2017 which is near completion.

He said that federal government had also moved into rehabilitation and completion of the abandoned Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri rail line started over three decades ago.

“We signed an agreement with Messrs China Railway Construction Company International to construct the Itakpe-Ajaokuta rail line, which will be extended from Itakpe to Abuja through Baro Inland Water Port in Niger State with a branch line to Lokoja in Kogi State.

“This rail line will link into the new Warri sea port being constructed under the agreement, ” Osinbajo said.

Osinbajo said that the federal government had optimised the Lagos-Ibadan standard rail line by extending it to the nation’s busiest port in Apapa for movement of cargos from the ports to various destinations.

The vice president said that the extension would expedite imports and export flow, decongest the port and remove pressure on the road.

“Also, we are putting all mechanisms in place to achieve the swift completion of the Ibadan Inland Dry port, which will off-take containers and cargoes from Apapa port through the Lagos – Ibadan rail line,” he said.

Osinbajo appreciated the support of the host community, Kajola, saying that the continuity of cooperation remained imperative in safeguarding and protecting the project.

In his welcome address, the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, said that the federal government awarded contract for the procurement of rolling stock to meet the increasing demand of both passengers and freight services.

“The Ministry of Transportation realising the need of the advantage to set up this type of plant considering the potential need in view of the ongoing rail projects in the country and the sub-region, encouraged Messrs CCECC to establish this plant.

“It is expected that the plant would generate job opportunities for Nigerians and as well facilitate the much-desired objective of the government towards the local content capacity development.”

“This will be the first of its kind in Nigeria and the first batch of the wagons to be assembled from the production line of this plant will form part of the rolling stock for Lagos – Ibadan and Abuja – Kaduna Railway operations,” he said.

According to him, with this, the country would be able to conserve her much needed foreign exchange, which could be deployed to other areas of development.

“It is cardinal to mention that the sustainability of our railway modernisation projects would depend on our ability to develop local capacity to construct, maintain and manage our new railway system.

“It is on this note that we feel that this project is germane to the railway development in Nigeria and that Messrs CCECC should be given every reasonable support to actualise this investment,” he said.

Remarking, the Managing Director of CCECC, Mr Jiang Yigao said that the company would continue to cooperate with communities and government at all level in its commitment to develop state-of-the-art railway system.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was witnessed by several government functionaries, community, religious and traditional leaders.

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