In a stern warning, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has cautioned resident doctors in Abuja against resorting to industrial action, asserting that he will not pay doctors who embark on strikes during his tenure as a minister. Wike went further to declare his readiness to confront such actions in court.
Addressing the resident doctors, Wike emphasized that threats of strikes would not be tolerated. He expressed his stance, stating that going on strike saves money, and even if the doctors were to return, he would not pay, insisting that such matters would be resolved in court.
Wike’s remarks come in the midst of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) engaging in intermittent industrial actions due to the perceived failure of the Federal Government to meet their demands.
Among the demands presented by the doctors are the immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), tangible steps towards an “upward review” of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), and the settlement of salary arrears dating back to 2015.
The doctors are also advocating for the swift recruitment of clinical staff in hospitals and the removal of bureaucratic impediments hindering the immediate replacement of departing doctors and nurses from the system. Additionally, they are calling for the immediate review of hazard allowances by state governments and private tertiary health institutions where residency training is conducted.
As tensions persist between healthcare professionals and the government, Wike’s uncompromising stance on strikes raises concerns about the ongoing challenges in the healthcare sector and the need for constructive dialogue to address the grievances of medical practitioners.
