Ngige To Striking Doctors: We’ll Invoke No Work, No Pay Rule

Labour Minister Chris Ngige yesterday threatened to invoke the
no work, no pay rule against striking members of the National
Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) if they refuse to go back to
their duty posts.

Ngige, who is a medical doctor himself, said on Channels
Television that he is scheduled to meet representatives of the
doctors on Tuesday for another meeting, and if they refuse to back
down, he will not hesitate to stop their salaries.

The doctors embarked on an indefinite strike on Thursday over
accumulated salaries and allowances.

He said: “Immediately after the holiday, I will talk to them
again. I have told the medical council and accountant general what
to do to make sure.

“Only 23 institutions are involved, not all institutions. I want
to know what they (medical council and accountant general) have
done by Tuesday.

“By Tuesday, I will invite them back. If they become
recalcitrant, there are other things I can do. There are weapons in
the labour laws, I will invoke them. There is no work, no pay.

“Their employers have a role also to keep their business afloat,
to keep patients alive. They can employ local doctors. We won’t get
there, but if we are going to get there, we will use that
stick.”

Labour Minister Chris Ngige yesterday threatened to invoke the
no work, no pay rule against striking members of the National
Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) if they refuse to go back to
their duty posts.

Ngige, who is a medical doctor himself, said on Channels
Television that he is scheduled to meet representatives of the
doctors on Tuesday for another meeting, and if they refuse to back
down, he will not hesitate to stop their salaries.

The doctors embarked on an indefinite strike on Thursday over
accumulated salaries and allowances.

He said: “Immediately after the holiday, I will talk to them
again. I have told the medical council and accountant general what
to do to make sure.

“Only 23 institutions are involved, not all institutions. I want
to know what they (medical council and accountant general) have
done by Tuesday.

“By Tuesday, I will invite them back. If they become
recalcitrant, there are other things I can do. There are weapons in
the labour laws, I will invoke them. There is no work, no pay.

“Their employers have a role also to keep their business afloat,
to keep patients alive. They can employ local doctors. We won’t get
there, but if we are going to get there, we will use that
stick.”