The Federal Government has expressed its readiness to withdraw the suit it instituted at the National Industrial Court (NIC) against the striking resident doctors, if the doctors return to their duty post.
Addressing journalists at the Presidential Villa, in Abuja, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige insisted that the government will implement the ‘no work, no pay’ policy against the striking doctors, noting that it is also captured in Section 43 of the Trade Dispute Act under the International Labour Organization (ILO).
He said the 12-point demand of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has been met, He also maintained that the government will not be arm-twisted by the striking doctors not to follow the global standard.
The Minister revealed that the Federal Government will recover millions of naira wrongly paid to 588 medical doctors across the country.
The lingering tussle between the Nigerian government and NARD has been on-going since July 31 when the doctors went on strike to press home their demands. Despite a series of meetings between the Federal Government and the striking doctors, no resolution has been reached.
