FG Clamps Down with ‘No Work, No Pay’ on Striking Resident Doctors

The Federal Government of Nigeria has issued a directive to implement a “no work, no pay” policy on striking members of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).

The government has directed Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors in Federal Tertiary Hospitals to enforce this policy and maintain attendance registers for resident doctors willing to work. The directive was in a letter from the Federal Ministry of Health addressed to all FTHs in the country.

The strike, which commenced on July 26, 2023, came after the expiration of a two-week ultimatum given to the government to meet the doctors’ demands.

Among the demands are the implementation of a one-for-one replacement policy for healthcare workers, discontinuation of the downgrading of membership certificates issued by the West African Postgraduate Medical and Surgical Colleges, immediate payment of all salary arrears, implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, new hazard allowance, and domestication of the Medical Residency Training Act, among others.

In response to the strike action, the government has accused the striking doctors of being insensitive. Various conciliatory meetings with government stakeholders, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and the National Assembly have proven unsuccessful. Thus, the Ministry of Health has resorted to implementing the “No Work, No Pay” policy in line with a circular dated June 22, 2016.

The Secretary-General of NARD, Dr Kelechi Chikezie, stated that the directive was not unexpected and that the association’s leaders would meet to deliberate and respond to the situation.

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