Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health has suspended the recruitment exercise for positions in the medical fields.
The Vice-President, Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Adejo Arome, confirmed this development to The PUNCH.
According to Arome, the organisers suspended the exercise because of the massive publicity it gathered.
The latest recruitment exercise comes amid ongoing strike action by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).
The doctors had commenced the strike on August 1 over “irregular payment of salaries,” among other issues.
Over the years, medical doctors have engaged in strike actions while agitating for improved welfare conditions and increased allocation to the health sector.
In April, resident doctors had embarked on a strike action to protest their poor remuneration and conditions of service.
Meanwhile, the NARD Vice-President has confirmed that Saudi Arabia had to suspended the exercise because Nigerian government felt embarrassed with the publicity given to the exercise.
In his words, “Well, some people got to the venue today (Thursday) and when they didn’t meet anyone, they called me and I confirmed from the recruiters and some other doctors that the recruitment has been suspended.
“The recruitment on Tuesday garnered coverage, because of the media publicity. It was everywhere that doctors were going to Saudi Arabia.
“The recruiters had to suspend it because the Federal Government said it felt embarrassed by the news.
“It is a big shame. The government has no right to infringe on the right of the citizens to choose to go to another country. If the system is not working, let them go to another country.”
Meanwhile, operatives of the Department of State Services, reportedly dispersed medical doctors, who had stormed the Sheraton Hotels, Abuja, to take part in the Thursday’s recruitment interview organised by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health.
It was gathered that several medical practitioners were present at the Sheraton Hotels in Abuja to partake in the exercise. The operatives of the DSS were said to have stopped the medical practitioners from gaining entrance into the venue.
A journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting was also arrested at the venue but was later released few moments after.
