MINISTER of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige on Friday threatened to invoke the no-work- no-pay rule on striking doctors under the aegis of National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) if they insist on going on with the strike.
Dr Ngige stated this on Friday during an interview on Channels Television. “By Tuesday, I will invite them back; if they become recalcitrant, there are things I can do. There are weapons in the labour laws; I will invoke them. There is ‘no work, no pay,” the minister said.
The minister had since his appointment made such threats against striking unions, including the doctors and university lecturers, but so far, none has ever been carried out.
NARD commenced an indefinite strike on Thursday after its meeting with a federal government delegation on Wednesday night failed to meet its demands.
NARD is demanding the payment of all salary arrears, review of the current hazard allowance to 50% of consolidated basic salaries for all health workers, and payment of the outstanding Covid-19 allowance especially in state-owned tertiary institutions, among other demands.
