Rivers asks resident doctors to call off strike within 24 hrs or get sacked

The Rivers government has asked resident doctors under the employment of the state to call off their strike or get sacked.

The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) had embarked on a strike on April 1 to protest the failure of the government to fulfil an agreement signed with the union.

NARD later suspended the strike on April 10, following the signing of a new agreement with the federal government, concerning issues raised in a 13-point demand.

On Monday, the association had asked its members to resume its nationwide strike over the alleged failure of the government to fulfil its part of the agreement.

NARD also accused the federal government of “irregular payment of salaries” to its members.

But in a statement on Tuesday, Tammy Danagogo, secretary to the state government (SSG), said the resident doctors employed by the state are paid regularly, and have no business joining the industrial action.

“Sequel to the ongoing strike action by the Rivers State chapter of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) with respect to irregularities in the payment of salaries of house officers by the Federal Government, the Rivers State Government hereby directs all Resident Doctors under the employment of the State Government to call off its strike action immediately,” the SSG said.

“Whereas the NARD has a right to go on strike, we expect that such should be restricted to Resident Doctors that are directly under the payroll of the Federal Government, particularly as the Rivers State Government does not owe salaries or benefits to Resident Doctors in the State.

“We are therefore unable to decipher why Resident Doctors in the State will embark on sympathy strike with their counterparts in the employment of the Federal Government.

“To this end, the Rivers State Government having reaffirmed its position with respect to the above, will not tolerate further strike actions by Resident Doctors in Rivers State and will be compelled to invoke the “No Work, No Pay” rule on striking house officers.

“We therefore direct all Resident Doctors to call off the ongoing strike in the State and return to work within 24hrs, or forfeit their salaries and risk being sacked.”