The Federal Government of Nigeria announced on Thursday, August 29, 2024, that it will enforce the ‘no work, no pay’ policy against striking resident doctors.
This decision was communicated in a statement by Ado Bako, Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
The ministry expressed disappointment over the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD)’s decision to initiate a seven-day warning strike, despite ongoing negotiations aimed at resolving their concerns. “The ministry is disappointed over the decision of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors to embark on a seven-day warning strike, disregarding all negotiations and attempts by the Federal Government to resolve its concerns and ensure continued industrial harmony,” the statement read.
NARD began the strike on Monday in response to the abduction of Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, a registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna, who was kidnapped along with her husband and nephew on December 27, 2023. While her husband was released in March, Dr. Popoola and her nephew remain in captivity.
The health ministry highlighted its continuous efforts in collaboration with security agencies, including the Office of the National Security Adviser, to secure the safe release of Dr. Popoola. “Over the past months, the ministry, in collaboration with relevant security agencies, including the Office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, have 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 statement noted.
The statement described the strike action as regrettable, especially amidst ongoing discussions. “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,” it added.
The government reiterated that invoking the ‘no work, no pay’ policy is not intended to disregard the concerns of medical professionals but to ensure that essential healthcare services are not disrupted. “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 (NARD), 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 stated.
It urged the striking doctors to return to the negotiation table to collaboratively find sustainable 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 concluded.
Lara Adejoro, with over a decade of experience in health and environment reporting, highlighted that the ministry remains open to constructive dialogue and committed to working with all stakeholders for a fair resolution.
