*’…our members are strongly determined to sacrifice everything for the soul of the medical profession and Nigerian patients’
THE National Association of Resident Doctors says it is not moved by the threat by Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, to invoke the no-work-no-pay policy.
The association’s National President, Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi, said this in an interview with Punch yesterday.
Ngige had while being interviewed on Channels TV’s Politics Today yesterday said he had warned his “children who are medical doctors” to stay off the ongoing strike which he described as “nonsense.”
The minister vowed to invoke the no-work-no-pay rule against the doctors if they don’t resume by next week.
He said, “Next week, I’ll escalate this issue because reconciliation has failed.
“I won’t meet them anymore because I have other things to do. I had two conciliations yesterday (Thursday). Am I going to be wasting my time with them?
“I have other tools within the labour laws and I will use them. I invoked Section 43 of the labour laws this afternoon (Friday). 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 the strike.
“As we speak, I have not received any notification and that is why I am invoking Section 43 of the Labour Act – on the 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 the government for a ride, and it is wrong. They are playing with lives.
“My children are medical doctors and I have warned them not to be part of this nonsense strike.”
In reaction, however, NARD President, Okhuaihesuyi, said, “That policy is extant but implementing it this time would only be vindictive and selective.
“However, our members are strongly determined to sacrifice everything for the soul of the medical profession and Nigerian patients.”
“We will not be moved by any form of intimidation,” he added.
