The Federal Government has threatened to introduce a ‘no work, no pay’ policy if striking doctors refuse to resume work.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, issued the warning on Friday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
“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,” Ngige said.
“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.”
Speaking further, the Minister also noted that the current hazard allowance of ₦5,000 for doctors was fixed in 1992, noting that it was fair and just.
While noting that when the former President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr Francis Adebayo Faduyile, brought it up, Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo described the figure as criminal.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige speaks during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on April 2, 2021.
The Minister explained that the Federal Government would review the amount in five weeks’ time, although he didn’t disclose the proposed figure.
“It is the last NMA President Faduyile that called my attention that the hazard (allowance) was ₦5,000. I raised it with the Finance Minister and the Vice President in the Economic Sustainability Meeting. In fact, to use the words of the Vice President, he said it is criminal, that it shouldn’t happen.
“The new hazard allowance will be done in the next five weeks. It is in the Memorandum of Action that we signed. Immediately after the Easter break, I will convene a meeting to look at it holistically,” he added.
Recall that the resident doctors had on Thursday embarked on an indefinite strike to protest alleged failure by the Federal Government to fulfil its obligations to them.
