FG will enact ‘no work, no pay’ policy for doctors on strike

The Federal Government has implemented a “no work, no pay” policy in response to the current strike by resident doctors, so it’s possible that they won’t receive their salary for a while.

This is stated in a letter addressed to the Accountant General of the Federation dated August 1 and written by the Director of Hospital Services at the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), Dr. Andrew Noah, on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olufunso Adebiyi.

The letter’s subject, which was sent to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), is “Re: Incessant Strike Action by Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD): Implementation of ‘No Work, No Pay’ Policy of the Federal Government.”

Part of the letter, which bears the serial number DHS/828/T1/410, reads: “NARD, in a letter Ref. No. NARD/SG/2022-2023/050723/459, dated July 5, has prolonged its expiring ultimatum by another two weeks, effective as of Wednesday, July 5.

Additionally, if all of the requests are not addressed by the time the extended deadline expires on July 19, NARD will not ensure industrial peace in the health sector.

“Despite coordinated government interventions, NARD began an indefinite strike on July 26 over their agitated issues.”

Some of NARD’s main requests were also listed in the letter, including the immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), the immediate implementation of at least a 200 percent rise in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, and the upward revision of related allowances.

Others include paying consequential adjustment arrears that are still owed, as well as hazard and skipping allowances.

According to the letter, several attempts at negotiation by the Ministries of Health and Labour and Employment, as well as other government agencies and the National Assembly, failed to persuade NARD to end its ongoing strike action.

“I’m required to inform you of the ‘No Work, No Pay’ provisions of Circular No. 58598/S.1/II/182, dated June 22, 2016, and to ask for its implementation to serve as a deterrence to other health workers.

“I am further directed to request your good office to stop the salaries of all striking resident doctors with effect from July 26, 2023,” the letter continued.

In response to the letter, Dr. Innocent Orji, President of NARD, informed NAN that the “no work, no pay” policy will exacerbate the problems and prolong the members’ current strike.

He claims that the Federal Government has made matters worse by failing to hold FMOH accountable under the pretence that it is powerless to take meaningful action since it lacks a minister.

“Our members are upset that a ministry that has taken that stance has the wherewithal to now have the resources to be issuing letters to announce their plans for punitive measures.

We will meet this weekend, and from what we have heard from our members, I can assure you that by the following week, there will probably be a significant escalation.

Orji claimed that people are growing weary of the numerous conciliatory negotiations that the government and other stakeholders have dragged the organisation into.

He further stated that from the start of the strike, the Federal Government had not engaged in negotiations with the association.

“Before the strike began, we held discussions. We have previously stated that since the MRTF 2023 is already funded and is included in the budget, there is no need for negotiations to take place.

“Our members are just working around the clock alone doing the work of so many people, so they do not need talks or meetings to release the circular on One-for-One policy for the replacement of exited clinical workers so that they can replace those who have left the system.”

We’ll meet this weekend, and whatever occurs the following week, let it be known that they were to blame, he continued.

In a statement following the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on July 29, NARD stated that the members’ ongoing nationwide strike action may go on indefinitely.

The strike will continue, it continued, until the government made reasonable headway towards addressing its demands as outlined in the ultimatum it presented to the Federal Government on July 5.