FG threatens to implement ‘no work, no pay’ on striking resident doctors

By our reporter| The federal government on Friday threatened to implement the ‘no work, no pay’ on the striking resident doctors if they refuse to resume work.

Nigeria’s labour minister, Chris Ngige who issued the during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, said he will invoke relevant sections of the labour laws if the doctors remain recalcitrant.

“By Tuesday, I will invite them back. If they become recalcitrant, there are other things I can do. There are weapons in the Labour Laws, I will invoke them. There is no work, no pay,” Ngige said.

“Their employers have a role also to keep their business afloat, to keep patients alive. They can employ local doctors. We won’t get there but if we are going to get there, we will use that stick.”

Ngige who also noted that the current hazard allowance of ₦5,000 for doctors was fixed in 1992, said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo described the figure as criminal when his attention was called to it.

According to the minister, the Federal Government would review the amount in five weeks’ time, although he didn’t disclose the proposed figure.

“It is the last NMA President Faduyile that called my attention that the hazard (allowance) was ₦5,000. I raised it with the Finance Minister and the Vice President in the Economic Sustainability Meeting. In fact, to use the words of the Vice President, he said it is criminal, that it shouldn’t happen.

“The new hazard allowance will be done in the next five weeks. It is in the Memorandum of Action that we signed. Immediately after the Easter break, I will convene a meeting to look at it holistically,” he added.

The resident doctors embarked on an indefinite strike to protest alleged failure by the Federal Government to fulfill its obligations to them on Thursday at the end of the ultimatum it gave the federal government.