Resident doctors declare nationwide protest

If the federal government does not agree to the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) demands, a daily peaceful protest would start the following week.

The Nigerian government had ordered the management of federal tertiary hospitals to start enforcing the "no work, no pay" policy against the striking physicians, but this hasn't happened.

According to this guideline, doctors who refuse to report to work during the strike will not be paid their usual salary.

The government gave hospitals instructions in a letter dated August 1 to put the "no work, no pay" policy into effect and to maintain an attendance register for resident doctors who are willing to work through the strike.

“I am directed to inform you that the Federal Ministry of Health has instituted the policy of “No work, No Pay” against the striking resident doctors in line with circular Ref. No.58598/8.1/II/182 dated June 22, 2016,” the letter reads in part.

“I am further directed to request you to maintain an attendance register for all residents willing to work and furnish the ministry of such names on a monthly basis.”

The government's decision, however, did not faze the striking doctors, who vowed to intensify their strike the next week.

The association, in a circular titled; “Notice of Nationwide Mass Protests and Picketing by NARD,” said the protest will commence Wednesday, 9 August.

The Federal Ministry of Health, the Office of the Head of the Federal Civil Service, and the federal and state tertiary health institutes in the nation will all be picketed, according to NARD.

It claimed that the demonstration had become necessary to drive home its demands, which it claimed had been mainly disregarded by the federal government and the health ministry.

Source