By Chinasaokwu Helen okoro
The Federal Government, on Thursday, said it would invoke the ‘no work, no pay’ policy for the striking resident doctors.
But reacting, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors told our correspondent it was unmoved by the threat, vowing that the strike would run its seven-day full course.
NARD began a seven-day warning strike on Monday to press for the rescue of its member, Dr Ganiyat Popoola, who was kidnapped eight months ago.
Popoola, a registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna, was abducted on December 27, 2023, along with her husband and nephew.
While her husband was released in March, Popoola and her nephew remain in captivity.
NARD President, Dr Dele Abdullahi, said the decision to embark on the warning strike was made during the Extraordinary National Executive Council meeting held virtually on Sunday.
Reacting to the pronouncement by the Federal Government to invoke the ‘no work, no pay’ policy on Thursday, NARD’s Vice President II and Chairman of the NARD Medical Education Committee, Dr Kefas Wadi, said the doctors were not moved by the directive to invoke the ‘no work, no pay’ policy.
There have been saying it, it is not new. We are focused on our objectives, irrespective of the consequences. They can even decide to sack us as long as they bring back our kidnapped colleague. It is going to be a win-win situation for us.
There was a time they sacked us; so this is not new. The strike continues,” Wadi said.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in a statement on Thursday, by its Assistant Director on Information and Public Relations, Ado Bako, announced the ‘no work, no pay’ policy.
The statement noted that the ministry was disappointed over the decision of NARD to embark on the seven-day warning strike, disregarding all negotiations and plea attempts by the Federal Government to resolve its concerns and ensure continued industrial harmony.
“Over the past months, the ministry, in collaboration with relevant security agencies, including the Office of the National Security Adviser, 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 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 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.
