By Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

The Federal Government last night ruled out any further discussion with the leadership of the National Association of Resident Doctors over the doctors’ strike.

The government said it has invoked the “No work no pay” rule as contained in Section 43 of the Labour Act.

It therefore said the doctors will not receive payment for as long as the strike persists.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, who disclosed this when he appeared on Politics Today, a current affairs programme on Channels Television, said the position of government has been communicated to the leadership of NARD.

He said the government has given the striking doctors seven days ultimatum to return to their post or risk being replaced by Monday next week.

Ngige said the government is ready to replace the striking doctors with local ones, saying the government has so much alternatives at its disposal.

The minister also said the government may drag the doctors to the National Industrial Court or Industrial Arbitration Panel, if the strike persists by Monday when the seven – day ultimatum would have elapsed.

He said: “I won’t meet them anymore because I have other things to do. I did two conciliation yesterday. Am I going to be wasting my time with them?

“I have other tools within the labour laws and I will do it. I invoked Section 43 of the labour laws this afternoon (yesterday). I have communicated it to NARD. They will not receive money for the period they are on strike and it will never count as a period of pensionable position in their career.

“Even the International Labour Organisation supports it because they render essential services.  They are not supposed to go on strike without notifying me 15 days before the day of strike.

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“As we speak, I have not received any notification. That is why I am invoking Section 43 of the Labour Act on withdrawal of services, right to strike and the right to protect the employer and their patients.

“Things will happen next week. Let them wait because they are taking government for a ride and it is wrong. They are playing with lives.”

Asked by the presenter if he will invoke the labour laws next week, the minister said: “I will and by next week I will escalate it , because reconciliation has failed and the law says if conciliation has failed; on my own side, I can move it up – Industrial Arbitration Panel or National Industrial Court of Nigeria.

“The ones (demands) that are Federal Government have been treated. If I did 95 per cent for you, that is distinction.

“I have given them seven days (the day the strike started); it started on Monday. My seven days terminates on Monday. I will invoke other things that are allowed by law. The employer has a right to replace them in the period they were away.

“You can use local doctors to replace them. There are many people on the standby.

Asked if the Federal Government could cope without the doctors, who are rendering critical services at a time when there are rising cases of COVID-19 and diarrhea, Ngige said things are under control.

The minister said he has warned his children who are medical doctors to stay off the ongoing strike which he described “nonsense.”

He also blamed state governments for the situation, saying people are not talking about that but focusing on the Federal Government alone.

The minister accused state governments of not doing enough in terms of healthcare in the country.

According to him, with health being on the Concurrent Legislative List, the state governments ought to play their part by tackling the challenges in the sector.