By Asmau Ahmad
The Federal Government has issued a ‘no work, no pay’ policy for the striking Resident doctors, following their on-going indefinite strike.
This is contained in a letter written by the Director of Hospital Services, Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), Dr Andrew Noah, on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, Mr Olufunso Adebiyi, to the Accountant General of the Federation.
A copy of the letter which made available to newsmen is titled ‘Re: Incessant Strike Action by Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD): Implementation of ‘No Work, No Pay’ Policy of the Federal Government’. It has DHS/828/T1/410 as its serial number.
The body of the letter read: “NARD has in a letter Ref_. No. NARD/SG/2022-2023/050723/459; dated July 5, extended its expired ultimatum by another two weeks effective from Wednesday, July 5.
“Also, at the expiration of the extended ultimatum on July 19, if all the demands are not met, NARD will not guarantee industrial harmony in the health Sector.
“On July 26, NARD embarked on an indefinite strike over their agitated issues despite concerted government interventions.”
The letter also itemised some of NARD’s key demands to be immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), immediate implementation of a minimum of 200 per cent increment in Consolidated Medical Salary Structure and the upward review of associated allowances.
Others are payment of outstanding arrears of consequential adjustment, hazard allowance and skipping allowance.
The letter said that various conciliatory meetings by the ministry of health, Ministry of labour and Employment, government stakeholders and the National Assembly proved abortive in getting NARD to call off the indefinite strike action.
“I am directed to bring to your notice the provisions of Circular No.58598/S.1/II/182 dates June 22, 2016, on ‘No Work, No Pay’ and request for the implementation of the circular to serve as a deterrent to other health workers.
“I am further directed to request your good office to stop the salaries of all striking resident doctors with effect from July 26, 2023,” the letter read.
Reacting to the letter, the President of NARD, Dr Innocent Orji, told NAN that the ‘no work, no pay’ policy would aggravate the issues and escalate the on-going strike by its members.
According to him, the Federal Government has aggravated the matter because FMOH has not been living up to their responsibility, but claim that because it does not have a minister, it cannot do much.
“Now for a ministry that has taken that position to now muster the capacity to be issuing letter to communicate their plans for punitive measures, our members are angry about it.
“We are going to meet this weekend and I can tell you from what we have heard from our members that there will likely be massive escalation by next week,” he added.
Speaking about the various conciliatory talks that the government and other stakeholders have engaged the association in, Dr Orji said it is getting people tired.
He added that the Federal Government had not been in negotiations with the association since the strike commenced.
On July 29, the NARD, in a communiqué issued after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, said that the nationwide strike action embarked upon by its members may continue indefinitely.
It added that the strike would continue until reasonable progress is made by the government to address its demands as contained in the ultimatum issued to the federal government on July 5.
