Federal Government has threatened to invoke labour laws against “recalcitrant” doctors.
Doctors under the aegis of the National Association of Resident Doctors, on Thursday, began a nationwide strike over Federal Government’s failure to fulfil its obligations to them.
Minister of Labour And Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, stated this on Friday while featuring in Politics Today, a Channels Television Programme.
The Minister said he will have another meeting with the striking doctors on Thursday.
He, however, said if they still remain adamant after the discussion, he will take certain measures against them.
Ngige said, “By Tuesday, I will invite them back (the doctors) If they become recalcitrant, there are things I can do.
“There are weapons in the labour laws I will invoke. There is ‘no work, no pay’. Their employers have a role also to keep their businesses afloat, to keep patients alive. They can employ local doctors… We won’t get there. If we are going to get there, we’ll use that stick.”
Ngige also faulted the incumbent NARD President, Dr Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi, saying he was averse to the role he is playing in the ongoing strike.
The minister, who further tackled the striking doctors, said in the US and UK, doctors pay to enter the residency programme, “but in Nigeria, we pay them.”
He said former President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr Francis Adedayo Faduyile, drew the attention of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo to the current hazard allowance of ₦5,000 for doctors.
Ngige, who described the allowance as fair and just, said it was fixed in 1992.
He, however, disclosed that the Federal Government would review the amount in the next five weeks.
But Ngige didn’t disclose the proposed figure.
He said, “It is the last NMA President Faduyile that called my attention that the hazard (allowance) was ₦5,000. I raised it with the Finance Minister and the Vice President in the Economic Sustainability Meeting. In fact, to use the words of the Vice President, he said it is criminal, that it shouldn’t happen.
“The new hazard allowance will be done in the next five weeks. It is in the Memorandum of Action that we signed. Immediately after the Easter break, I will convene a meeting to look at it holistically.”