President Tinubu approves waivers of ‘no work, no pay’ order for resident doctors

President Bola Tinubu has approved the waiver of the “no work, no pay” order that was instituted against striking members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).

According to a statement on Friday signed by special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, the waiver will enable the doctors to receive the salaries which were withheld during the strike action.

On July 26, the resident doctors embarked on a strike action after the federal government failed to meet their demands.

But the government on August 1 instituted a “no work, no pay” order against the doctors.

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Following a series of meetings between leaders of the association and representatives of the government, the striking doctors called off their strike on August 12.

“Invoking the Principle of the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy, President Bola Tinubu has approved the waiver of the “No Work, No Pay” Order that was instituted against striking members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on August 1, 2023, following the commencement of their industrial action which began on July 26, 2023,” the statement reads.

“After several constructive engagements between the Federal Government and NARD, the Resident Doctors called off their strike on August 12, 2023.

“The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation was directed to withhold all salaries accrued by striking NARD members during the 17 days of their strike action.

“In view of the faithful implementation of terms which were agreed upon during the fruitful deliberations between the Resident Doctors and the Federal Government of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has directed the grant of an exceptional last waiver of the “No Work, No Pay” Order on Resident Doctors, which will allow for the members of the NARD to receive the salaries which were previously withheld during the 17-day strike action.

“The President has directed the grant of the waiver with a mandatory requirement that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment must secure a Document of Understanding (DoU) establishing that this exceptional waiver granted by the President will be the last one to be granted to the National Association of Resident Doctors and all other Health Sector Unions.”