The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has threatened to enforce the “No Work, No Pay” policy against doctors on strike.
This was disclosed in a statement released by the Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations, Ado Bako, on Thursday.
The planned strike follows the abduction of Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, a Senior Registrar in Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna, along with her husband and nephew on December 27, 2023.
While her husband was released in March, Dr. Popoola and her nephew remain in captivity.
In response to the prolonged captivity, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) declared a seven-day warning strike to pressure the government to secure Dr. Popoola’s safe release.
NARD President, Dr. Dele Abdullahi, stated that the strike, decided during an Emergency National Executive Council meeting, would be total, with no concessions or emergency care provided.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, had earlier contacted the National Security Adviser and the Inspector-General of Police, urging expedited efforts to rescue Dr. Popoola and prevent further disruption in the health sector.
Doctors across the country staged a peaceful protest on August 19, demanding Dr. Popoola’s immediate release.
NARD had initially given the Federal Government a two-week ultimatum to secure her release or face industrial action.
However, in Thursday’s statement, the ministry reiterated that it would enforce the “No Work, No Pay” policy for the duration of the strike, in accordance with existing labor laws.
The ministry emphasized that this measure is not intended to undermine the concerns of medical professionals but to ensure that essential healthcare services remain available to the public.
The ministry noted that despite its ongoing negotiations and efforts to secure Dr. Popoola’s release, NARD had disregarded the government’s attempts to resolve the issue.
It highlighted that significant progress has been made in recent negotiations, and security agencies, including the Office of the National Security Adviser, are working tirelessly to ensure her safe rescue.
“We are making high-level efforts, and we remain confident that these measures will lead to a positive outcome,” the statement added.
The ministry expressed disappointment over NARD’s decision to strike amid ongoing discussions and urged resident doctors to return to the negotiation table to collaboratively find lasting solutions to the challenges facing the healthcare sector.
