The Federal Government has announced its decision to invoke the ‘no work, no pay’ policy in response to the ongoing strike by resident doctors, according to a statement released by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare on Thursday.
The statement, signed by Ado Bako, the ministry’s Assistant Director on Information and Public Relations, expressed disappointment over the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors’ (NARD) decision to embark on a seven-day warning strike, despite ongoing negotiations and efforts by the government to address their concerns.
Okay.ng reports that the warning strike, which began on Monday, was initiated by NARD in protest over the abduction of their colleague, Dr. Ganiyat Popoola.
Popoola, a registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna, was kidnapped on December 27, 2023, along with her husband and nephew. While her husband was released in March, Popoola and her nephew remain in captivity.
Dr. Dele Abdullahi, President of NARD, stated that the decision to strike was made during an Extraordinary National Executive Council meeting held virtually on Sunday.
The statement from the health ministry emphasized that significant progress had been made in recent negotiations and that the government had acted in good faith by addressing many of NARD’s concerns. The ministry also highlighted its continued efforts to ensure the safety and improve the welfare and working conditions of all healthcare workers, including resident doctors.
“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 statement read.
The ministry expressed regret over NARD’s decision to proceed with the strike amidst ongoing discussions, stating 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 statement added.
The ministry urged the doctors to return to the negotiation table to find lasting solutions to the challenges facing the healthcare sector and reiterated its commitment to constructive dialogue with all stakeholders to achieve a fair and sustainable resolution.
