Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire says contrary to insinuations, government is not in any way threatening members of the National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria, who are currently on strike.
The Minister gave the clarification on Thursday at the State House, during the weekly Ministerial briefing organised by the Presidential Communications Team.
He therefore, appealed to the Doctors to call-off the strike in the interest of humanity.
Commenting on the implementation of the ‘No work no pay,’ law by government, he said; “Yes, but that’s the standard thing. That’s the International Labour Organization, ILO recommendation that if you didn’t work, then why will you take your salary? Salary comes from taxpayers’ money. So if you did not work, why should you be paid? Because if that is so you can’t be encouraged to stay home for six months and your salary is running from public funds, from taxpayers’ money, or you have not given the community any service.
“So that no work, no pay is not just the government regulation. It is recommended specifically in International Labour Organisation provisions, that if you do not work, if you have not given any service, you can’t expect remuneration, because you can’t go to the market and buy something for nothing. You must put down something, you must put down work.
“The strike is not what we want now, we would like to again, use this platform to ask doctors to return to work, let us negotiate. We can do that among us.”
The Minister said; most of the issues in contention rest with State governments. He therefore, advised the striking Doctors to reach amicable resolutions with the various State governments concerned.
He emphasized that government would continue to appeal to the Doctors not to use strike as a tool, especially at a time of national need like now.
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