The Federal Government has ordered the implementation of the no-work, no-pay rule on members of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, as strike action reaches the 26th day.
This was contained in a letter written to Chief Medical Directors and Managing Directors of federal tertiary hospitals, dated August 26, 2021.
The letter titled ‘Application of Section 43(1) (A) of the Trade Dispute Act, Cap T8, Law of the Federation of Nigeria (LGN) 2004 (no work no pay) partly’, was signed by the Director of Hospital Services, Federal Ministry of Health, Adebimpe Adebiyi.
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It reads, “The ministry is in receipt of the letter from the Ministry of Labour and Employment informing the ministry of the laws governing the ongoing strike by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors and the need to immediately apply the provisions of the Section 43 (1) (a) of the Trade Dispute Act on ‘special provision with respect to payment of wages during strike and lock outs’ known in labour parlance as no-work-no-pay with effect from Monday, August 2, 2021 when the strike was commenced by NARD members.
“Consequently on the above, I am directed to inform you to commence the implementation of the no-work-no-pay policy on the striking doctors including other workers that may embark on strike consequently.”
According to the letter, the directive is in line with Section 43 (1) (a) of the trade dispute act which inter alia states “where any worker takes part in a strike, shall not be entitled to any wages or remuneration for the period of the strike.”
It further states that any such period will not account for the purpose of reckoning the period of continuous employment and all rights dependent on continuity of employment shall be prejudicially affected accordingly.
“You are to compute the financial implications of the no-work-no-pay from the salaries of resident doctors and any other health worker that participated in strike using the attached template and forward same to the IPPIS office through the Federal Ministry of Health for implementation,” it said.