The Federal Government says striking doctors under the aegis of the Nigerian Association of Residents Doctors, NARD should be prepared to lose their pay.
NARD, the magazine reports, is currently on a 7-day strike to demand the release of one of their members, Dr. Ganiyat Popoola who was kidnapped last December in Kaduna state by bandits.
She has spent eight months in the den of kidnappers who are demanding a N60 million ransom.
As the resident doctors continue to shun their work, activities in the nation’s hospitals and other health facilities have been paralysed as Nigerians in need of care are now being forced to seek help in private hospitals.
The striking doctors have insisted that they will embark on an indefinite strike at the expiration of the ongoing one, if Dr Popoola is not released from her abductors.
They had earlier embarked on a protest last week to press home their demand for the abducted doctor to be freed so she can return to the waiting arms of his family loved ones.
Reacting, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare said in a statement on Thursday that it will apply no work no pay policy on the striking medical doctors.
The statement was signed by Ado bako, an Assistant Director on Information and Public Relations in the ministry.
According to the ministry, the Resident Doctors failed to negotiate with the government in its quest to bring harmony to the health sector, saying the federal government is doing everything in its capacity to ensure the safety of health workers in the country.
The ministry stated that security agencies in the country have been coordinating with the National Security adviser, NSA, to ensure the safe return of Dr Popoola, adding that very soon their efforts will yield positive results.
The statement read, “Over the past months, the ministry, in collaboration with relevant security agencies, including the Office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, have been working tirelessly to ensure the immediate and safe rescue of Dr Ganiyat Popoola. High-level discussions and coordinated efforts are currently underway and we remain confident that these measures will lead to a positive outcome.
“The ministry finds the decision to proceed with this strike action, in the midst of these ongoing discussions, deeply regrettable. We believe that continued dialogue is the best approach to resolving any outstanding issues.
“In view of this, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare wishes to bring to the notice of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), that in line with extant labour laws, the Federal Government will evoke the “No Work, No Pay” for the number of days the strike was observed.
“This measure is not intended to undermine the legitimate concerns of our medical professionals but to ensure that essential healthcare services are not unduly disrupted to the detriment of the public.”
The ministry, however, urged the doctors to return to the negotiation table to find lasting solutions to the challenges facing the healthcare sector.
“As always, the ministry remains open to constructive dialogue and is committed to working together with all stakeholders to achieve a fair and sustainable resolution,” the statement said.
NARD had claimed that medical doctors in the country have become endangered species due to their constant abduction by kidnappers who abduct them for ransom. The association said over 32 medical doctors are currently in the den of kidnappers across the country with no hope of their safe return.
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