The Federal Government (FG) has ordered medical leaders in federal hospitals to apply a ‘no work, no pay’ policy on the members of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) who are on an indefinite strike. The government has also instructed the hospitals to keep an attendance register for any resident doctors who are willing to continue working.
The directive was issued in a letter dated August 1, 2023, by Dr. Andrew Noah, the Director of Hospital Services.
The letter accused the striking doctors of being insensitive to the plight of Nigerians who need healthcare services.
NARD embarked on the strike on July 26, 2023, after the expiration of a two-week ultimatum given to the government to meet their demands. The demands include:
- The implementation of the one-for-one replacement policy for healthcare workers who have left the service
- The discontinuation of the downgrading of the membership certificate issued by the West African Postgraduate Medical and Surgical Colleges by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria
- The immediate payment of all salary arrears and the implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure
- A new hazard allowance and the domestication of the Medical Residency Training Act
- Among others
The government, however, said that it had held several conciliatory meetings with the doctors and other stakeholders, but they had proved abortive. The government said that it had instituted the ‘no work, no pay’ policy in line with a circular issued in 2016.
The letter read: “I am directed to inform you that the Federal Ministry of Health has instituted the policy of ‘No work, No Pay’ against the striking resident doctors in line with circular Ref. No.58598/8.1/II/182 dated June 22, 2016.
I am further directed to request you to maintain an attendance register for all residents willing to work and furnish the ministry of such name on a monthly basis.”
The Secretary General of NARD, Dr Kelechi Chikezie, in his reaction to the decision of the Federal Government, said that the directive was not unexpected. He said that NARD would meet as leaders to take a position on it.
He said: “We have seen the letter and we will meet as leaders of NARD to take a position on that.
But that policy is not new to us, and we would not say we were not expecting it. However, the position of NARD will meet and take a position on it.”
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