The Federal Government has warned that it may enforce a ‘no work, no pay’ policy against striking resident doctors, who have abandoned hospitals across Nigeria in protest against the ongoing detention of one of their colleagues by kidnappers.
The doctors, under the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), began a seven-day warning strike on Monday, August 26, 2024, to pressure the government to secure the release of Dr. Ganiyat Popoola. Dr. Popoola, a practitioner at the National Eye Care Kaduna, was kidnapped along with her husband and nephew during a bandit raid on the hospital’s staff quarters on December 27, 2023. While her husband was released in March, Dr. Popoola and her nephew remain captive.
The Federal Government, reacting to the strike, criticized the doctors’ action, deeming it unnecessary as efforts to address the situation were ongoing. In a statement issued by Ado Bako, Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Health, the government expressed disappointment over NARD’s decision to strike despite ongoing negotiations. The government emphasized that the strike has severely disrupted activities in public hospitals and warned that the striking doctors would forfeit any benefits accrued during the strike period.
The statement highlighted that the Ministry, in collaboration with security agencies, has been working tirelessly to ensure Dr. Popoola’s safe rescue, with high-level discussions and coordinated efforts currently underway. The Ministry urged the resident doctors to return to the negotiation table to resolve the issues and ensure that essential healthcare services are not disrupted.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to improving the welfare and working conditions of healthcare workers and encouraged continued dialogue to achieve a sustainable resolution to the challenges facing the healthcare sector.