The Federal Government has said it did everything possible to stop the ongoing nationwide strike of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), which paralysed activities in government-owned hospitals across the country.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige stated this while addressing the Nigerian Health Commissioners Forum Quarterly meeting in Abuja.

The Minister recalled that the doctors were sleeping on their rights until the COVID-19 pandemic broke out last year and the Federal Government felt that the N5000 hazard allowance paid to them since 1991 was too paltry.

He noted that the Federal Government paid the doctors and other health workers bumper money as special COVID hazard allowance for three months in the first instance, to the tune of N32 billion while states were told to pay as much as they could afford.

In a statement by the Deputy Director Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment,
Charles Akpan, the Minister narrated to the Health Commissioners the trajectory of the current strike.

The statement said: “In September 2020, they put a notice of strike, asking for Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) by which each of them will get N542, 000 to cover cost of books and journals for that particular examination,transportation and lodging for three days.

“Luckily, a supplementary budget was being put together and it was included and was paid to them. They called off the strike. By March this year, they listed other things again.

They said the Residency Training Fund is not in 2021 budget. They also needed the hazard allowance to be upgraded and demanded that States should domesticate Residency Training Act. They said some states owed their people long months of salaries. They also wanted skipping allowance and arrears of consequential adjustment to minimum wage.

“Before we could say Jack Robinson, they went on strike on April 1. I thought it was April fool until April 2 when we didn’t see them at work. I told them that they didn’t give the mandatory 21 days’ notice to their employers who have written to me to complain.

“However, we returned to the table. Government pledged that the 2021 Residency Training Fund will be captured in the supplementary budget. This has been done and payment ready.

“FG also approved N11.3B for Group Life Insurance in 2020 and renewed in 2021. Government also held a series of conjoint NMA-JOHESU meeting on hazard allowance until the two disagreed and now asked for separate negotiations.

They are the ones delaying action on this.
“Every other issues bordering on what the states have failed to do with doctors is where our hands are tied, but Federal Government agreed to speak to the Governor’s Forum.

“The arrears of consequential adjustment to the minimum wage cut across sectors. Anyway, N160 billion earmarked for it has been exhausted and the next thing to do is to push for more. But really, some hospitals have gotten. We also abolished bench fees for Residency Training for those doing specialty. At this, the doctors left the negotiation happy.”

Ngige said they returned again on July 22, 2021 complaining about things that were undone and the Government updated them on the efforts being made to address their demands.

“We told them that the Residency Training Fund is in the supplementary budget signed into law. So, we will now approach the World Bank to lend to CBN and from there, we will obtain the Naira component and it will be paid.

“They said one hospital, LUTH, charged their member bench fee. We inquired and the CMD LUTH said the person came before the circular was issued. So, the person will be refunded.

“They said 114 house officers have not been paid out of 3000. The registrar of MDCN said it looks like their particulars were wrong or they did not validate because they are expected to validate on the 15th of every month. They were satisfied. They left only for us to hear that after their NEC in Benin, they went on strike and said it will not be called off until they get alert.

“They equally said they were removed from the scheme of service. The Head of Service of the Federation now explained to them that career progression should not be for a temporary person. The House officer has a provisional license.

“An NYSC doctor is on national service. However, we agreed that we should do an addendum circular to explain that they should not be in scheme of service.

“They said Lagos has started implementing and paying them allowance of N15, 000 as call duty for NYSC. I told them that it is wrong if Lagos was doing that because their wage structure is still the same.

“The Head of Service of the Federation, called Head of service Lagos and she explained, there was nothing like that. Lagos wrote and we showed it to them but they said the circular must be withdrawn.

Government doesn’t function that way. If it will be withdrawn it will go to Council on Establishment. If you cannot wait, we do you an addendum circular on the remuneration. The other money is being processed but you have to call off the strike.

“They said they will not call off till they get alert. So, by law, we sent them to industrial court. Section 17 of the Trade Dispute Act says if conciliation fails, you transmit to court. They got to court. The court ordered them to return to work while issues are discussed.

“The court said employees employer and employer cease hostilities against your employee. They said senior lawyer told them that cessation of hostilities doesn’t mean that they should call off the strike. The court adjourned till September 15.”

Eriokanmi:
Story for the gods

Eriokanmi:
Story for the gods...and you went to disperse those who wanted to seek greener pastures among them in Saudi at an interview venue last week, using DSS? Give better working conditions, una no gree. Okay, increase their wretched salary, una still no gree but bubu can waste millions of dollars in the UK on medical tourism. Una punishment before God no be wasa

MrColdsweat:
Why are doctors earning peanuts compared to our politicians?

Omo we need to scatter this country.

Buckeyemedia1:
At least the Federal Government tried to avert the strike, what did the state Governors do, or Reps?

ThEGodFaThEr103:
The lifeless dullard from daura will be remembered as Nigeria's most useless president.

Buckeyemedia1:
Not scatter, reform it, democrazy has failed In Nigeria simple.

Buckeyemedia1:
Almijiri what of the Governor of your state that you voted for?

ThEGodFaThEr103:

Look at this Àláyémáş'ànfàní that sold his birthright for 5k just to be a zombie.

MrColdsweat:

Reform is the proposal of our thieving politicians.

We need to scatter Nigeria so we can go our separate ways .

Buckeyemedia1:
Answer the question, mention 1 thing the Governors of your state since May 29th 1999, have done that affected the lives of you & your family?

ThEGodFaThEr103:

I will answer you but first tell us why you choose to sell your birthright for 5k and accepted the offer of being a perpetual zombie.

Buckeyemedia1:
Go & scatter it, who are you waiting for? Empty Barrel Olofofo.

ThEGodFaThEr103:

I will answer you but first tell us why you choose to sell your birthright for 5k and accepted the offer of being a perpetual zombie.

MrColdsweat:


Get out of my mentions you dead vulture seller.

Buckeyemedia1:
I’m sure it was your papa that gave you the info?

ThEGodFaThEr103:

You that the man you call father accepted because he believed that your mother was raped at gun point not knowing that it was actually your mother who did "Bend Down low" and had her craw craw yansh banged by a group of Agberos in the neighborhood.

Buckeyemedia1:
Almijiri mention just one benefit from your state that has empowered you & your family, just 1?

Buckeyemedia1:
Stop telling us the story of your life, We are not interested, don’t deviate from the question, please mention I benefit you & your family have received from your State since 1999 that has been benevolent to your & your family?

MrColdsweat:


When I say we must scatter Nigeria, I mean every institution and authorities including the states.

Brother ode.

ThEGodFaThEr103:

Mumu, you're here wasting the time you should use in asking your mother who your real father is.

ThEGodFaThEr103:

Mumu, you're here wasting the time you should use in asking your mother who your real father is.

Buckeyemedia1:
You are still Yet to mention anything you and your family have benefitted from whatever state you are from or reside since May 29th 1999?

ThEGodFaThEr103:

Is this not what you and family benefited from your state government since May 29th 1999.