Implement ‘no work, no pay’ policy on striking resident doctors, FG directs CMDs

Following the footsteps of the defunct Buhari administration, the Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government has directed the Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of federal tertiary hospitals to implement the “no work, no pay” policy on the striking members of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).

The FG also directed the hospitals to maintain an attendance register for all resident doctors willing to work.

Persecondnews reports that NARD declared an indefinite strike on July 26, over the government’s failure to meet its demands.

The strike is coming shortly after the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Tajudeen Abbas, had urged the resident doctors to put off the strike to enable him interface with the Executive arm of government.

Their major demands include immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), immediate release of the circular on one-for-one replacement, payment of skipping arrears and upward review of CONMESS in line with full salary restoration to the 2014 value of CONMESS.

Others are payment of the arrears of consequential adjustment to the omitted doctors, reversal of the downgrading of the membership certificate by MDCN, payment of new and omitted hazard allowance arrears hazard and implementation of corrected CONMESS in state tertiary health institutions.

However, a letter issued by the Federal Ministry of Health and addressed to the CMDs and MDs of all FTHs in the country, accused the striking of being insensitive.

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

It states: “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.”