ABUJA, Nigeria — The Federal Government issued an urgent warning to members of the National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, last night, calling their planned five-day warning strike “illegal” and urging them to engage in social dialogue instead.
The admonition came from Senator Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Employment, who had received a letter from the NARD executive announcing the impending industrial action set to start at midnight on Tuesday, May 16, 2023.
“I will advise them to attend the meeting with the Minister of Health on Wednesday, May 17, 2023. I will also advise them very strongly not to go on a five-day warning strike.
There is nothing like a warning strike. A strike is a strike,” Ngige cautioned in his response.
“If they want to take that risk, the options are there. It is their decision. They have the right to strike. You cannot deny them that right. But their employer has another right under Section 43 of the Trade Dispute Act, to withhold their pay for those five days,” he continued.
Ngige revealed that he had contacted the Minister of Health, who had arranged a meeting with the resident doctors for Wednesday, May 17, 2023.
He urged the doctors to seize this chance for dialogue, warning that failure to work could lead to wage deductions and temporary replacements.
The Minister also clarified the government’s position on some of the key demands by the doctors.
He underscored that the Federal Government cannot force states to implement the Medical Residency Training Fund, MRTF, as health matters fall under federal and state legislation.
Regarding immediate payment of the MRTF to NARD members, Ngige explained that it was included in the 2023 budget but hasn’t been released yet as the 2022 budget was still operative.
Regarding the allegations that the Federal Government did not pay minimum wage consequential adjustment arrears to NARD members, the Minister refuted the claims, stating that all workers, including those in the Education, Health, and Defense sectors, had benefited from the adjustment.
Ngige further argued that doctors cannot declare a nationwide strike because some states owe their members, as it is a state issue, and the federal government cannot intervene.
He also pointed out that the Federal Government cannot interfere with a bill at the National Assembly to bond doctors for five years, as it is a private member’s bill and intervention would infringe on legislative independence.
Finally, the Minister addressed the topic of a 200 percent pay rise, labeling it as unfeasible. He noted that the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, is already in negotiations with the Federal Ministry of Health, National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, and the Presidential Committee on Salaries about a pay rise for doctors.
“It is incongruous for student doctors to embark on strike when consultants training them were already negotiating with the Federal Government,” Ngige concluded, highlighting the complexities of the situation.
