Wike Dares Doctors to Strike Says He Won’t Pay Them On Resumsption

Resident physicians in Abuja have received a warning from Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), not to threaten to take strike action.

According to Naija News, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has been staging intermittent work stoppages as a result of the Federal Government’s inability to accede to their requests.

Among many other things, the doctors want the Consolidated Medical wage Structure (CONMESS) be reviewed in concrete phases, the prompt payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), and the settlement of all wage arrears owing to its members since 2015.

Additionally, the doctors want the immediate, substantial hiring of clinical staff for hospitals and the removal of administrative roadblocks in order to replace the rapidly departing physicians and nurses.

Additionally, they demand that all state governments and private post-secondary healthcare facilities that provide any kind of residency training immediately examine the hazard allowance.

Speaking to Abuja’s resident physicians, Wike stated that medical professionals are free to offer ideas, and the federal government will consider them.

The Minister said he was against industrial action and that he would benefit financially if physicians went on strike.

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Wike said he would not pay doctors who embark on strike, adding that he is ready to contend with them in court.

He said, “Make your recommendations, and we will see the ones we can do and those we can’t do. Don’t threaten me with a strike because I don’t like it. When you go on strike, I save money; even if you come back, I won’t pay; we will determine it in court.

“It’s not about promises but the reality on ground, I don’t believe in theory.”