Striking Doctors React As FG Enforces ‘No Work, No Pay’ Policy

The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has condemned the ‘no work no pay’ policy on its members by the Federal Government.

Naija News reported that the Federal Government directed the Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors in the Federal Tertiary Hospitals to implement the no work, no pay policy on the striking doctors.

In a circular released on Thursday, the government also directed the hospitals to maintain an attendance register for all resident doctors willing to work.

Reacting to the development in a chat with Vanguard on Friday, the President of NARD, Dr Emeka Orji, described the policy as unfortunate and baseless.

The NARD President said the doctors should not be blamed for any likely escalation of the situation, adding that the Ministry of Health has been shifting blame for a long time.

He said: “It is unfortunate that the Ministry of Health has been shifting blame and keep saying they don’t have a minister yet, which is why they cannot handle such issues.

“They now have the will and the capacity of implementing imputative measures.

“I can tell you that this letter has aggravated things and nobody should blame NARD for any escalation that might likely happen from next week.”

Recall that the NARD embarked on an indefinite strike on July 26, following the expiration of a two-week ultimatum to the government to meet its demands.

Their demands include the implementation of the one-for-one replacement policy for healthcare workers; the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to discontinue the downgrading of the membership certificate issued by the West African Postgraduate Medical and Surgical Colleges.

There is also the immediate payment of all salary arrears; the implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure; a new hazard allowance; and the domestication of the Medical Residency Training Act; among others.