Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps named Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi and another high-ranking officer, Brigadier General Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi, as among seven of its members killed.

Britain-based war monitors the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 11 people, including several Guards members, were killed when “Israeli missiles… destroyed the building of an annexe to the Iranian embassy”.

The toll includes “eight Iranians, two Syrians and one Lebanese — all of them fighters, none of them civilians,” Rami Abdel Rahman, who heads the Observatory with a network of sources in Syria, told AFP.

Iran’s ambassador to Syria, Hossein Akbari, giving a lower toll, told Iranian state TV that “at least five people were killed in the attack which was carried out by F-35 fighter jets” which fired six missiles at the building.

AFP reporters saw the annex building had caved in, and emergency services were rushing to search for victims under the rubble as sirens wailed in the upscale Damascus district of Mazzeh.

Security personnel shielded the site where earth-moving equipment was brought in to clear the debris and remove charred vehicles from the road outside, watched by a crowd of onlookers.

Syria’s defence ministry said “the attack destroyed the entire building, killing and injuring everyone inside, and work is underway to recover the bodies and rescue the wounded from under the rubble”.

– Regional tensions –

Iranian state TV said Zahedi — a senior commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ foreign operations arm, the Quds Force — was among the dead.

The Observatory said Zahedi served as the leader of the Quds Force for Palestine, Syria and Lebanon, adding that he was killed along with his deputy, his aide, and the Quds force chief of staff for the same three countries.

Two other members of the Guards and two Iranian advisers were also killed in the strike, the Observatory said.

The targeted building is next to the Iranian embassy, the front of which is decorated with a large portrait of Qassem Soleimani, the architect of Iran’s military operations in the Middle East, killed in January 2020 in an American drone strike in Iraq.

The Damascus strikes were the fifth in a week to hit Syria, whose President Bashar al-Assad is supported by Iran, Israel’s long-time arch foe in the region.

Syria’s state news agency SANA had earlier reported that “our air defence systems confronted enemy targets in the vicinity of Damascus”.

Iran’s ambassador, Akbari, vowed the attack “will lead to our decisive response”, adding “the Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate shows the reality of the Zionist entity which recognises no international laws and does all that is inhumane to achieve its goals”.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian called for a “serious response by the international community”.

– ‘Heinous attack’ –

Only the gate of the building was left standing after the attack, with a sign mentioning “the consular section of the embassy of Iran”, an AFP journalist said.

Window panes in buildings within a 500-metre (550 yard) radius had been shattered, and many parked cars were damaged by the blast.

Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad also denounced the attack after visiting the site, calling it a “heinous terrorist attack… killing a number of innocent people”, in a statement carried by SANA.

The Gaza war, which started with the October 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel, has devastated the coastal territory and also seen Israel and Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah exchange near daily cross-border fire.

Israel has also struck targets in Syria, mostly army positions as well as those of Iran-backed combatants.

Hamas condemned “in the strongest terms” the attack which it called a “dangerous escalation.”

Moscow, a Damascus ally along with Tehran, blamed “the Israeli Air Force” for the “unacceptable attack against the Iranian consular mission in Syria.”

The Damascus strike came three days after the Observatory reported Israeli strikes that had killed 53 people in Syria, including 38 soldiers and seven members of Hezbollah.

It was the highest Syrian army toll in Israeli strikes since the Israel-Hamas war began, said the monitor.

“Syria and Lebanon have become one extended battleground from the Israeli perspective,” Riad Kahwaji, head of the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis, told AFP after the Friday strikes.

The bloodiest ever Gaza war erupted with the Palestinian militants’ unprecedented October 7 attack which resulted in about 1,160 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Israel’s retaliatory campaign, aimed at destroying Hamas, has killed at least 32,845 people, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza health ministry.

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The group stated this while issuing a 7-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to resolve lingering issues in the Health Sector.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, the National Chairman of the union, Mr Josiah Biobelemoye, stated this on Monday during a warning rally organised by the union in collaboration with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), in Abuja.

DAILY POST recalls that the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) had given the Federal Government Jan. 31 deadline to resolve all disputes, and meet the unions’ outstanding demands, or face industrial action.

The Chairman stated that the seven-day ultimatum, with effect from Jan. 4, was given due to the intervention of clerics and their love for the Nigerian populace.

He said, “We decided to seek God’s intervention by reporting our offenders to him. Last Friday we attended the Juma’at Prayers while on Sunday we attended Church Service.

“Fortunately and unfortunately, we met the Minister of Health in the church where we worship and the Overseer told him that he is in a better position to resolve this matter and allow the populace to receive better health.

“The cleric further pleaded with us to exercise some patience, hence we decided to give the seven days ultimatum after which we will report to the NLC that decided to take over the matter,” Biobelemoye noted.

Biobelemoye also listed the demands of the union as unjustified withholding of the salaries of its members for April and May last year, upward adjustment of CONHESS Salary Structure and headship of hospital departments.

“While we are in the ARD discussing, the Federal Ministry of Health decided to indiscriminately implement no-work-no-pay after the court has said no one should do anything to provoke the other.

“We refused to take action for over seven months that they violated the court’s order because we are mindful of the fact that every strike affects the common man negatively.

“We know that public health institutions are the cheapest for the Nigerian populace so we were reluctant of embark on strike for over seven months.

“We have used the means of dialogue to impress it on the federal ministry of health and its management that they are violating a court order but to no avail.

“We use this medium to tell Nigerians that have opportunity of interacting with those in authority specifically the minister of health to do the needful,” he said.

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The union said it embarked on the strike to make the ruling class responsible for the future of Nigerian children.

ASUU, in a release signed by the Chairman of the University of Ibadan chapter, Dr. Deji Omole, described the call by the Labour Minister, Chris Ngige, on the union to have mercy on students and call off its strike “a merciless utterance.”

According to Omole, the statement by the minister exposed the ruling government insincerity and callousness to the wellbeing of Nigerian students.

ASUU said since government was a continuum, it was regrettable that Chris Ngige who is being paid salaries put in place by previous governments as a minister will say previous governments caused the problem of the strike by signing 2009 agreements.

The ASUU boss who noted that the present government has not shown mercy to education and health sectors of the nation said the union has a genuine concern to truncate the plans of the ruling capitalist to destroy the future of Nigerian youths by not funding education.

The statement reads: “Education is an instrument of liberation which will stop many youths from joining kidnapping gangs, armed robbery, militancy and terrorism.

“We are patriots otherwise we would not go on strike. We would have been looking and allow everything to be destroyed.

“But we cannot allow our future (children) to be taught in zoo-like conditions. This kind of education system cannot give us a leader who will be kind to others if we are not kind to them by giving them the best environment to learn from.

“Nigerians should join us to beg President Buhari to meet our demands on time rather than using them for talking approach.”

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The action is coming three days after their leadership signed a memorandum of terms of settlement with the government.

Ministry of Labour and Employment spokesman Samuel Olowookere, in a statement, said the Federal Government was disapointed over the sudden u-turn by the leadership of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD ) after it had reached a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the Federal Ministry of Health on its six-point demand.

He added: “Minister of Labour and Employment Senator Chris Ngige, “in exercise of the powers conferred on him by the Trade Dispute Act 2004, has apprehended the ongoing strike by NARD. Consequently, the meeting between NARD and the government earlier scheduled for November 2 is now slated for Wednesday, September 6, 2017 (tomorrow) by noon at the Conference Room of the Minister of Labour and Employment. ”

“All stakeholders are implored to attend this crucial meeting. The health and well-being of Nigerians are cardinal to President Buhari’s administration. Hence, every measure necessary shall be taken to restore normalcy”.

Rising from their National Executive Council meeting in Abuja, the doctors said they were rejecting the terms of settlement, which would have seen the strike being suspended.

But the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) warned doctors on internship not to join the strike.

They risk repeating their programme, if they do, it said.

In a notice of strike sent to chief medical directors and medical directors of hospitals and signed by the President and Secretary General, Dr. Onyebueze John and Dr. Aneke Emmanuel, the resident doctors said they rejected the terms, but did not give any reason for doing so.

The letter reads: “The National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria, rising from her extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting which held on Sunday, 3rd September 2017 at Parkview Hotels, Abuja, rejected the Memorandum of terms of settlement from government on the items of her demand for strike and resolved to proceed on the proposed national, total and indefinite strike with effect from 8am Monday, 4th September 2017.”

A message from the President of the Resident Doctors also reads: “Rising from our NEC meeting which started by 7pm yesterday (Sunday) and ended 3am today (Monday), NARD resolved to reject the promissory offer from government and proceed on total and indefinite strike until all items in her demand list are resolved by government.”

The doctors are contesting what they described as the government’s failure to:

pay our salary shortfall of 2016 and January to May 2017;
rectify the salary shortfall from August 2017;
circularize House Officers’ entry point;
correct the stagnation of promotion of our members and properly place them on their appropriate grade level;
enroll and capture our members on the Integrated Personnel Payment Information System (IPPIS) and
budget, deduct and remit both the employer’s and employees’ pension contributions to our retirement savings account since 2013.

After a meeting between the government’s representatives and officials of the doctors’ association and the Nigeria Medical Association on Thursday, both parties signed a memorandum of terms of agreement, pointing out that some of the issues being complained about by the association were already being addressed by the government.

The memorandum was signed by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole. Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Prof. Stephen Ocheni, National President of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Prof. Mike O. Ogirima, National Association of Resident Doctors President Onyebueze John and of the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission Chairman Richard Egbule.

Other signatories are representatives of Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and the Budget Office of the Federation.

The memorandum reads: “The meeting noted that some Federal Tertiary Health Institutions (FHTI) have paid a percentage of salaries to Resident Doctors and are consequently in arrears of salary payments to members of NARD and Honorary Consultants.

“It was also noted that the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) had started the process of paying the shortfall of salaries owed in batches. It was therefore concluded that the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) should forward the list of the recipient FHTI to the Honourable Minister of Health to ensure that the released fund was used for its intended purpose. The payment for other FHTI not captured to be implemented before the end of October 2017.”

On shortfall in salaries, it was agreed that “the Director Hospital Services is to address a circular/letter to the Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) and state therein that the released funds should be used solely for salaries and shortfalls. The Federal Ministry of Finance should ensure that monthly salaries are paid in full.

“Reference was made to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reached at the 7th Senate in 2014, and House of Representatives with the Speaker presiding in 2016, where parties agreed to use the quantum of monies contained in CONHESS 9:4 for CONMESS 1:1.

“It was concluded that effect should be given to previous Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) reached on this issue so that CONHESS 9:4 would be in parity with CONMESS 1:1. The Chairman NSIWC to get this circularised, after getting the quantum from FMoH. All matters on this issue should be finalised before the preparation of 2018 Budget is concluded.

“Issues of skipping and matters ancillary thereto were discussed. The meeting noted that the Federal Ministry of Health had appealed against the ruling of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) on skipping and that a date has been given by the Court of Appeal for hearing in March, 2018.

“It was further noted that a major issue is the improper placements on appropriate Salary Grade Levels. It was concluded that a proper guideline should be provided by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) and that Item 4 of the MoU of December 16, 2013 should be adopted.

“The Item 4 states that ‘the FMoH, NSIWC, NMA should urgently review the NMA’s proposal on skipping of CONTISS 10/CONHESS10/COMESS 2 in the new Scheme of Service with a view to amending it to reflect the suspension of the circular on unauthorised skipping of equivalent of CONMESS 2 for medical doctors in the Public Service.

“The amended proposal shall be forwarded to the HCSF through the FMoH for an onward presentation to the forthcoming National Council on Establishment (NCE) on 24th January, 2014 in Ilorin.” In view of this earlier position, it was concluded that the Honourable Minister of Health (HMoH) should drive this issue and that no circular should be issued on the matter until it is concluded by the HMoH.

“In view of the expected meeting of the Council of Establishment, the end of October was given as the tentative time limit to conclude the assignment by the FMoH and Office of the HCSF. Hospitals that are yet to implement skipping for doctors are to commence and henceforth, promotions should be in accordance with the Public Service Rules.

“Based on the information given by the members of NARD, it was noted that only 18 Federal Tertiary Health Institutions had so far submitted their Nominal Roll. The meeting concluded that NARD members should be on the IPPIS platform and that the CMDs as well as the MDs should be requested by the FMoH to submit their Nominal Roll to the Office of the Accountant General of The Federation (OAGF) and copy to the FMoH and FML&E on or before September 15, 2017. It was agreed that all Resident Doctors should be captured on IPPIS platform by the end of October 2017.

“It was concluded that NARD members are on pensionable appointment and, as such, the FMoH in conjunction with OAGF and Budget Office of the Federation (BOF) should take necessary steps to ensure that adequate budgetary allocations are made to cover the Pension requirements of NARD members.

“Furthermore, FMoH should issue a letter in that regard to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation who would correspond with the Budget Office of the Federation for necessary action, as the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) had in a letter of February 12, 2015, Ref.PENCOM/INSP/C&E/CCPA/66/15/1167 to the Honourable Minister of Health affirmed that members of NARD are “employees”.

“In view of the foregoing terms of settlement, NARD agreed to meet in an Emergency Session before Monday, September 4, 2017, for the presentation of this Memorandum to her National Executive Council with a view to averting the scheduled strike.”

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President of the National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, John Onyebueze announced the commencement of the nationwide indefinite strike action early hours of Monday.

Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige had on Saturday after a meeting with the doctors which was also attended by Minister of Health; Prof. Isaac Adewole hinted that the planned strike had been suspended.

The doctors however refuted the statement, saying though they met with the government, but were yet to take a decision.

Ngige, was quoted by Channels Television as saying on Friday that the doctors suspended the strike after a meeting.

Mr. Ngige said the meeting would continue on November 2.

The strike action is expected to adversely affect healthcare in public secondary and tertiary hostpitals in the country, particularly the teaching hospitals.

Onyebueze stated that the doctors rejected the “promissory offer from Government, and proceed on total and indefinite strike action until all items in her demand list for strike action.”

The resident doctors had earlier threatened to go on strike from September 4, if the federal government does not meet their demands including their immediate enrolment in the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, IPPIS.

NARD felt that neither the federal nor state governments has shown commitment to the resolution of issues at stake nor honoured previous agreements.

Consequent upon this, the association resolved to proceed on a total indefinite industrial action from Monday, September 4, 2017, until all these issues are permanently resolved.

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