FG set to implement ‘no work, no pay’ for striking resident doctors

• The Federal Government has directed Federal Tertiary Hospitals to impose a “no-work, no-pay” policy on striking Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) members
• The government also instructed hospitals to keep an attendance register for willing resident doctors, as the strike action continues in demand for several issues

The Federal Government has directed Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors in Federal Tertiary Hospitals to impose a no-work, no-pay policy on striking Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors members.

The FG also directed hospitals to keep an attendance register for all willing resident doctors.

The Federal Ministry of Health wrote the letter, which our correspondent obtained on Thursday, and it was addressed to the CMDs and MDs of all FTHs in the country.

The letter, titled “Re: Incessant Strike Action by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors: Implementation of the Federal Government’s ‘No Work, No Pay’ Policy,” was signed by Dr Andrew Noah, Director of Hospital Services.

On July 26, 2023, NARD went on an indefinite strike to press its demands.

The strike came after the government’s two-week deadline to meet its demands expired.

The doctors are calling for the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to stop downgrading membership certificates issued by West African Postgraduate Medical and Surgical Colleges, as well as the immediate payment of all salary arrears, the implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, a new hazard allowance, and the domestication of the Medical Residency Training Act.

In the letter, the government accused the strikers of being insensitive.

The various conciliatory meetings by the Federal Ministry of Health, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment with government stakeholders, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and the National Assembly have proved abortive.

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 letter read in part.

Reacting, the Secretary General of NARD, Dr Kelechi Chikezie, said the directive was not unexpected.

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, Chikezie said.