Nigeria’s Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige revealed that the Federal government of Nigeria has issued an order to stop payment of salaries of the resident doctors in the country who embarked on nationwide strike last Monday.
Ngige stated that the federal government had decided that if by Monday, the resident doctors fail to return to their duty post that they would be made to lose the pay beginning from the day of the commencement of the strike until it is called off.
The government also said that it would refer the dispute between it and the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to the National Industrial Court for arbitration.
Candidreporters.com gathered that the Minister of Labour and Employment, also affirmed that the federal government would also compute the period that the resident doctors went on strike in April and seize their salaries.
In his words: “The no work, no pay rule has been triggered off with effect from Monday August 2, and if by Monday they do not return to work, government will be compelled to implement the order to the letter.”
According to the minister, a circular to this effect has been issued and communicated to NARD and its members by yesterday.
He added that the government would by Monday declare talks with doctors on a failed negotiation and proceed to refer the issue to the Industrial Court.
“I will also take additional steps to declare discussions with the doctors a failed conciliation and refer the matter to the arbitration panel or National Industrial Court,” he said.
NARD had issued a communiqué at the end of their National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Umuahia, Abia State capital, directing its members nationwide to begin strike last Monday.
The association said: “after critical appraisal of the performance of both federal and state governments on all the issues affecting the welfare of our members as observed above and the insincerity of government in implementing the Memorandum of Action after 113 days, the NEC unanimously resolved by vote to resume the total and indefinite strike action from 08.00hrs on Monday, August 2, 2021.”
Disclaimer: Candid Reporters publishes news, information, sports, opinions, and Interviews. The site includes both reported and edited content. Unmoderated posts and Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Candid Reporters or any employee thereof..
