FG invoke ‘No work, No pay’ on striking doctors

By Olamilekan Adigun

The Federal Government has announced that it will enforce the ‘no work, no pay’ policy on striking Resident Doctors.

This followed a 7-day nationwide strike embarked upon by resident doctors in the country, following the continued detention of one of their colleagues by kidnappers.

The strike, which began on Monday, was called by the doctors to protest the abduction of Dr Ganiyat Popoola, who was kidnapped eight months ago.

NARD President, Dr Dele Abdullahi, said the decision was made during the Extraordinary National Executive Council meeting held virtually on Sunday.

However, a statement released on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare by its Assistant Director on Information and Public Relations, Ado Bako on Thursday, the government expressed disappointment over the doctors’ decision to go on strike, despite ongoing negotiations to address their concerns.

The ministry noted that significant progress had been made in recent negotiations and that the government had demonstrated good faith by addressing many of the concerns highlighted by NARD.

The statement read, “Over the past months, the ministry, in collaboration with relevant security agencies, including the Office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, has been working tirelessly to ensure the immediate and safe rescue of Dr Ganiyat Popoola. High-level discussions and coordinated efforts are currently underway and we remain confident that these measures will lead to a positive outcome.

“The ministry finds the decision to proceed with this strike action, in the midst of these ongoing discussions, deeply regrettable. 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 the “No Work, No Pay” for the number of days the strike was observed.

“This measure is not intended to undermine the legitimate concerns of our medical professionals but to ensure that essential healthcare services are not unduly disrupted to the detriment of the public.”

The ministry, however, urged the doctors to return to the negotiation table to find lasting solutions to the challenges facing the healthcare sector.

“As always, the ministry remains open to constructive dialogue and is committed to working together with all stakeholders to achieve a fair and sustainable resolution,” it added.