The Federal Government has directed the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) to withdraw their strike notices immediately.
Minister of labour and employment Chris Ngige announced the government’s position at a news conference in Abuja on Friday.
The news conference followed a meeting with the presidential committee on salaries, stakeholders and health sector associations and trade unions.
Those present at the meeting were the minister of health, Osagie Enahire; ministers of state, Clems Agba (finance budget and planning) and Olorunimbe Mamora (health).
Others are the permanent secretary, Ministry of Health, Abdulaziz Abdulahi and his labour and employment counterpart, Peter Yerima-Tarfa.
“I told them to withdraw because it is arm-twisting. It is not allowed in International Labour Organisation Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBAs) negotiation. So, we expect them to withdraw those notices they gave,” Ngige said.
“JOHESU gave 15-day ultimatum with effect from June 28. NARD gave 28-day ultimatum from when the day they had their National Executive Council.
”Those things are arm twisting and I told them that they must withdraw them because the issues they are bringing in here are tangential issues.
“They have nothing to do with this discussion on fixing a new hazard allowance for health professionals and workers.”
The minister said that the Federal Government would take the final decision on the new hazard allowance for health workers.
He said that the government’s side allowed enough time for the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and JOHESU to harmonise their different positions on the hazard allowance but they were not able to do so.
He, however, said the matter would be returned to the National Salaries, Wages and Incomes Commission (NSWIC) and the presidential committee on salaries to decide the new hazard allowance for health professionals and workers.
