On Friday, the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) strongly criticized the circular issued by the Federal Ministry of Health regarding the implementation of the ‘no work, no pay’ policy for their striking members. The association emphasized that the doctors should not be held responsible for any potential escalation of the situation.
Dr. Emeka Orji, the President of NARD, expressed his disappointment with the ministry’s actions in a conversation with Vanguard. The Federal Government had previously directed hospitals to maintain attendance registers for resident doctors and instructed Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of Federal Tertiary Hospitals to apply the ‘no work, no pay’ policy to the striking doctors.
The circular, dated August 1 and 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 Dr. Andrew Noah, the Director of Hospital Services.
According to the circular, all efforts by the Federal Ministry of Health, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, and other government stakeholders to engage NARD in conciliatory meetings have been unsuccessful in persuading the association to end their indefinite strike action. As a result, the Ministry of Health has decided to enforce the ‘No work, No Pay’ policy, which was previously outlined in a circular dated June 22, 2016.
The ministry also directed hospitals to maintain an attendance register for resident doctors who are willing to work and to provide the ministry with the names of such doctors on a monthly basis.
In response to the ministry’s actions, Dr. Orji expressed concern over their tendency to shift blame and cited the lack of a health minister as an excuse for not effectively handling the issues at hand.
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