From Abuja, CEOAFRICA.com gathered that negotiation between the Federal Government and the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) over the ongoing nationwide strike of the medical practitioners was inconclusive.

According to sources, the meeting started yesterday around 6 p.m and ended around 5. a.m this morning, with Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu and his health counterpart, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu in attendance.

Also, Chief Richard Egbule, Chairman of the National Incomes, Salaries and Wages Commission (NISWC), Mrs Patience Osinubi, the Director, Hospital Service Management, Ministry of Health, and the leadership of NARD, were at the meeting.

 The Labour Minister said the meeting would continue by 12.00 noon today, although he can’t say whether the strike would be called off or not.

From his own angle, the Health Minister said the discussion was successful.

 “I believed the strike would be called off.

“The meeting went well and like the minister of labour said, I believe they will come back and sign the agreement,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, contrary to the statements of the two ministers, Dr. Omokwa Harrison, the National Vice-President of NARD, told newsmen that the meeting ended in a deadlock due to disagreement over some details that needed to be put together.

 “The meeting went well after so many hours and ended in a deadlock due to disagreement over some details that we needed to put together.

“I think that both parties had a very fruitful discussion except for the last issue.

“The agreement reached at the meeting was supposed to be considered by NARD, and the president has already given assurance that we would go back to reconsider the issue,’’ Harrison said.

He added that he is optimistic that the little disagreement would be resolved soon.

 Harrison explained that in negotiation, parties sometimes disagree on certain issues and “this can lead to the meeting being adjourned or prolonged”