FG to Striking Doctors – Return to Work or Face Sanctions
The Federal Government has directed Chief Medical Directors of health institutions across the country to open attendance registers for resident doctors after a meeting with members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) ended in a deadlock on Tuesday.
Ehanire directed Medical Directors to open the attendance register on Wednesday by 7am and record those who are on duty and the ones who did not comply.
He said those who were not on duty, will be assumed to have left the service.
The resident doctors have told us that they are not returning to work very soon until certain conditions are met and they cannot keep extending the goal post any time they like.
NARD had embarked on nationwide strike on Monday to press home it’s demands for payment of hazard allowances, group life insurance, payment of minimum wage consequential adjustment, among others.
During the meeting on Tuesday in Abuja, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, noted that health workers are the essential frontline officers during the COVID-19 pandemic and have suffered great mishaps across the country.
Ngige said, “It is important to let you know that we have reached an agreement in many areas and the government side have shown evidence on the payment of the hazard and inducement allowances.
“We have paid those allowances since last night and it was directly paid into the account of recipients. So, we are hopeful that between the IPPIS office and the Central Bank, that before 24 hours they will all be credited for April and May.
“Also, on the issue of group life insurance and the employee compensation, we have assured them that they have been paid and we told them they have no right to make claims for the resident doctors or any health workers that must have had a mishap in the course of work resulting in death.
He also noted that the Federal Government has assured the striking doctors that the appropriation for residence program has been captured in the 2021 budget and would roll over from 2020.
NARD President, Aliyu Sokomba, said the resident doctors will only end strike within 24 hours when the federal government proposes a tangible deal on meeting the Union’s demands.
