FG Rules Out Further Talks With Resident Doctors

The Federal Government has ruled out any further discussion with
the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) over the
ongoing doctors’ strike.

The government said it has invoked the “No work no pay” rule as
contained in Section 43 of the Labour Act.

It added the doctors will not receive payment as long as the
strike persists.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, who disclosed
these when he appeared on Politics Today, a current affairs
programme on Channels Television, said the position of government
has been communicated to the leadership of NARD.

He said the government has given the striking doctors seven –
day ultimatum to return to their post or risk being replaced by
Monday next week.

Ngige said the government is ready to replace the striking
doctors with local ones, saying it has so many alternatives at its
disposal.

The Minister also said the government may drag the doctors to
the National Industrial Court or Industrial Arbitration Panel if
the strike persists by Monday when the seven – day ultimatum would
have elapsed

He said: “I won’t meet them anymore because I have other things
to do. I did two conciliations yesterday. Am I going to be wasting
my time with them?

“I have other tools within the labour laws and I will do it. I
invoked Section 43 of the labour laws this afternoon (yesterday). I
have communicated it to NARD.

“They will not receive money for the period they are on strike
and it will never count as a period of pensionable position in
their career.

“Even the International Labour Organisation supports it because
they render essential services. They are not supposed to go on
strike without notifying me 15 days before the day of strike.

“As we speak I have not received any notification that is why I
am invoking Section 43 of the Labour Act on withdrawal of services,
right to strike and the right to protect the employer and their
patients.

“Things will happen next week. Let them wait because they are
taking government for a ride and it is wrong. They are playing with
lives.”

Asked if he will invoke the labour laws next week, the Minister
said: “I will and by next week I will escalate it because
reconcilation has failed and the law says if conciliation has
failed on my own side I can move it up – Industrial Arbitration
Panel or National Industrial Court of Nigeria.

“The ones (demands) that are Federal Government have been
treated. If I did 95 per cent for you that is distinction.

“I have given them seven days (the day the strike started); it
started on Monday. My seven days terminates on Monday. I will
invoke other things that are allowed by law. The employer has a
right to replace them in the period they were away.

“You can use local doctors to replace them. There are many
people on the standby.”

Asked if the Federal Government could cope without the doctors,
who are rendering critical services at a time when there are rising
cases of COVID-19 and diarrhea, Ngige said things are under
control.

The Minister said he has warned his children who are medical
doctors to stay of the ongoing strike which he described
“nonsense.”

Ngige said he has a son and daughter who are practising
doctors.

He also blamed state governments for the situation, saying
people are not talking about that but focusing on the Federal
Government alone.

The Minister accused state governments of not doing enough in
terms of healthcare in the country.

The Federal Government has ruled out any further discussion with
the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) over the
ongoing doctors’ strike.

The government said it has invoked the “No work no pay” rule as
contained in Section 43 of the Labour Act.

It added the doctors will not receive payment as long as the
strike persists.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, who disclosed
these when he appeared on Politics Today, a current affairs
programme on Channels Television, said the position of government
has been communicated to the leadership of NARD.

He said the government has given the striking doctors seven –
day ultimatum to return to their post or risk being replaced by
Monday next week.

Ngige said the government is ready to replace the striking
doctors with local ones, saying it has so many alternatives at its
disposal.

The Minister also said the government may drag the doctors to
the National Industrial Court or Industrial Arbitration Panel if
the strike persists by Monday when the seven – day ultimatum would
have elapsed

He said: “I won’t meet them anymore because I have other things
to do. I did two conciliations yesterday. Am I going to be wasting
my time with them?

“I have other tools within the labour laws and I will do it. I
invoked Section 43 of the labour laws this afternoon (yesterday). I
have communicated it to NARD.

“They will not receive money for the period they are on strike
and it will never count as a period of pensionable position in
their career.

“Even the International Labour Organisation supports it because
they render essential services. They are not supposed to go on
strike without notifying me 15 days before the day of strike.

“As we speak I have not received any notification that is why I
am invoking Section 43 of the Labour Act on withdrawal of services,
right to strike and the right to protect the employer and their
patients.

“Things will happen next week. Let them wait because they are
taking government for a ride and it is wrong. They are playing with
lives.”

Asked if he will invoke the labour laws next week, the Minister
said: “I will and by next week I will escalate it because
reconcilation has failed and the law says if conciliation has
failed on my own side I can move it up – Industrial Arbitration
Panel or National Industrial Court of Nigeria.

“The ones (demands) that are Federal Government have been
treated. If I did 95 per cent for you that is distinction.

“I have given them seven days (the day the strike started); it
started on Monday. My seven days terminates on Monday. I will
invoke other things that are allowed by law. The employer has a
right to replace them in the period they were away.

“You can use local doctors to replace them. There are many
people on the standby.”

Asked if the Federal Government could cope without the doctors,
who are rendering critical services at a time when there are rising
cases of COVID-19 and diarrhea, Ngige said things are under
control.

The Minister said he has warned his children who are medical
doctors to stay of the ongoing strike which he described
“nonsense.”

Ngige said he has a son and daughter who are practising
doctors.

He also blamed state governments for the situation, saying
people are not talking about that but focusing on the Federal
Government alone.

The Minister accused state governments of not doing enough in
terms of healthcare in the country.