The Federal Government has threatened to enforce “no work, no pay” against the members of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) who are on a 7-day warning strike over the kidnap of one of their colleagues eight month ago. The Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations in the ministry of health and social welfare, Ado Bako, disclosed this in a statement.
The statement expressed disappointment in the resident doctors for embarking on the seven-day warning strike despite ongoing negotiations and efforts to address their concerns.
The ministry emphasised its commitment to ensuring the safety and improving the welfare and working conditions of all healthcare workers, including resident doctors.
The statement revealed that the ministry finds the decision to proceed with the strike action “deeply regrettable” and will invoke the “No Work, No Pay” rule.
“The ministry finds the decision to proceed with this strike action, in the midst of these ongoing discussions, deeply regrettable. As we believe that continued dialogue is the best approach to resolving any outstanding issues.
“In view of this, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare wishes to bring to the notice of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), that in line with extant labour laws, the Federal Government will evoke (invoke) the ‘No Work, No Pay’ for the number of days the strike was observed,” the statement read in part.
The ministry encouraged all resident doctors to return to the negotiation table to collaboratively find lasting solutions to the challenges facing the healthcare sector.
It stated that the ministry remains open to constructive dialogue and is committed to working with all stakeholders to achieve a fair and sustainable resolution.
Meanwhile, the leadership of NARD met with the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha late Thursday evening, with the minister pleading with them to call off their warning strike.
Addressing a peace meeting with the leadership of the doctors in Abuja, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Onyejeocha said that government is leaving no stone untouched in the effort to secure freedom for the kidnapped medical personnel.
She also assured that President Bola Tinubu has ordered that security be beefed up around hospital facilities in order to protect health workers and their patients.
The Minister said: “I have to say here that the government has heard you clearly and Mr. President is feeling disturbed that these things are happening, and it is not something he wished to continue.
“That’s why he has been engaging with security agencies every day, discussing issues of protection of lives and properties of the citizens. And so, he told me to reach out to you to plead that he and the security agencies are working hard to make sure that this condition do not persist and that he is committed the protection of lives and properties that he promised Nigerians.
“In that stead, I plead with you that work is ongoing, that please rescind the decision to continue the warning strike because that as we speak people who are not kidnapped are dying. I know that you are passionate saving lives of your brothers and sisters who are in the hospitals.”
