The ongoing strike by Nigerian resident doctors has entered a critical phase as tensions escalate between the government and the striking healthcare professionals.
In response to the strike, the Nigerian government has implemented the “no work, no pay” policy, leaving doctors without regular salaries during the industrial action.
The strike, initiated by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), has entered its ninth day, causing significant disruptions to healthcare services across the country.
The government’s directive to Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors in Federal Tertiary Hospitals, as contained in a letter dated August 1, 2023, instructs the enforcement of the “no work, no pay” policy against the striking doctors.
Additionally, hospitals have been instructed to keep an attendance register for resident doctors willing to continue working despite the ongoing industrial action.
The letter, signed by Dr. Andrew Noah, Director of Hospital Services at the Federal Ministry of Health, expressed the government’s disappointment at the doctors’ decision to proceed with the strike despite the government’s attempts at conciliatory meetings involving various stakeholders, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and the National Assembly.
In response to the government’s move, Emeka Orji, President of NARD, expressed strong disapproval, accusing the Federal Ministry of Health of evading responsibility for their failures and considering punitive measures.
Orji stated, “It’s unfortunate that the Federal Ministry of Health, which has done a very poor job, is trying to shift blame for their failures to other ministries and claiming they can’t do anything due to the lack of a substantive minister. They’re now developing the capacity to think that the best thing to do is to start implementing punitive measures.”
Orji also announced that following a national leadership committee meeting, NARD plans to call back its National Executive Committee (NEC) this weekend.
He emphasized that none of the key issues raised by NARD, including the immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) and a minimum 200% increment in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), have been resolved.
He warned that the situation is set to escalate even further in the coming week, as doctors remain frustrated over the government’s lack of action on their demands.
“So we are going to escalate. From Monday there will be a level of escalation that they will not imagine. it’s unfortunate that we have gotten to that point. But they called for it and I know our members will respond.”
The doctors’ demands also include tangible steps on the upward review of associated allowances, payment of salary arrears owed to its members since 2015, and the immediate recruitment of clinical staff in hospitals.
They further seek the abolishment of bureaucratic limitations to the immediate replacement of doctors and nurses who leave the system, and the review of hazard allowance by all state governments and private tertiary health institutions.