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Tag: Senator Chris Ngige

It’s criminal to owe workers, says Ngige

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has said it is a crime to owe workers, either in the private or public sector.

Ngige, who noted that governors had no excuse for owing workers, said they ought to look inward to generate more fu nds rather than going cap-in-hand to Abuja for federal allocation.

Speaking on the Federal Government’s disposition to the new minimum wage, at a forum in Abuja, he said the tripartite committee would ensure that all parties involved arrived at a fair wage that would be binding on all stakeholders in the economy.

Ngige said the maxim of this government was: if one cannot create more jobs, workers should hold on to the one they have.

“That is the maxim! If we are not able to create as much jobs as we believe Nigerians will need during the electioneering campaign, we should be able to hold on to the one we have and then do the little we can to compensate for the shortfall. Since we came in, it has not been easy or rosy with the economy,” he said.

The minister said first, there was the oil price slump and volatility in global market and then insurgency in oil producing areas.

“Our revenue went down drastically and we couldn’t pay salaries. We had to borrow to pay salary. But we said our maxim is to keep the job, not eliminate jobs, even if we cannot create exactly as we promised.

“In this regard, government led by example in our public service; we did not retrench people. We maintained the balance and if anything, some of our agencies were allowed to do what they called replacement,” he said.

March 16, 2018
End in sight for Varsity non-teaching staff strike

The three month old strike by non-teaching staff of Nigerian Universities may soon come to an end as there appear to be light at the end of the tunnel following conciliatory meeting between the striking and the federal government team.

The three unions namely Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) operating under the acronym of the Joint Action Committee have been on strike since December 4, 2017 and have summoned a meeting of the National Executive Committee for Wednesday to access the strike.

The Minister Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige who presided over the conciliatory appeal to them consider the plight of the students and return to work while the government address their demands.

The meeting which had the leadership of the unions and the officials of the Federal Ministry of Education in attendance deliberated exhaustively on all the outstanding issues raised by the unions.

Ngige recounted steps already taken by the current administration to permanently resolve all outstanding matters that disrupt academic activities in the universities as well as the measures being taken at present to settle the trade dispute with the Joint Action Committee and appealed to them to call off the strike.

Chairman of the Joint Action Committee and National President of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU), Comrade Samson Ugokwe said the strike continue until there is something concrete from the government side.

Ugokwe told The Nation on phone after the meeting that a meeting of the leadership of the three unions has been called for Wednesday at the NAAT secretariat to take a position on the strike.

He said the Minister of Labour has assured them that they will be formed of what the government is approving to meet the workers demand after the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday, adding that the figure from the government will be presented to the NEC for consideration, saying if members decided to suspend the strike, it will be suspended.

Read Also: NUT urges FG to end strike in varsities

March 6, 2018
Don’t force govt. to invoke no work, no pay rule – Ngige

Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige has warned striking none teaching staff of Nigerian Universities not to Force the government into invoking the relevant sections of the Labour laws of no work, no pay against them, asking them to immediately call of their indefinite strike action and make a fresh case for “skewed disbursement of the N23 billion released to the Universities.

In a state signed by the Deputy Director, Press in the Ministry, Samuel Olowookore, the Minister said the government was fully complied with the 12 point demands contained in the memorandum of settlement signed between the unions and the government on September 20, 2017.

Ngige asked the union leaders to stop misguiding their members and avoid pushing the Federal Government to a situation where it will invoke the relevant section of the labour laws on No Work, No Pay, saying it will be disastrous in the season of Christmas and end of the year if implemented.

According to him, the Federal Government has not only fully met all the twelve-point condition raised in the Memorandum of Settlement reached with the Non-Teaching Staff of Federal Universities on September 20, 2017 but has also complied faithfully with the timelines for the implementation of the agreement .

The non-teaching staff of Nigerian Universities made up of Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) National Association of Academic Technologists(NAAT) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) operating under the acronym of the Joint Action Committe on Monday commenced a nationwide strike accusing the government of deceit and not living by the agreement signed with them.

But while disputing the claims of the unions, the Minister asked them to call off the on-going indefinite strike and make a fresh case in respect of its reservation on the implementation of the Point One of the Agreement concerning the disbursement of the N23 billion Naira Earned Allowances.

Ngige said it was important for Nigerians to be informed that the Federal Government has fully complied with its own part of the agreement and asked the non-teaching staff of universities not to blame the Federal Government for what the striking unions termed the “skewed disbursement formula” for the N23 billion Earned Allowances released by the Federal Government.

According to him, “The Joint Action Committee of Non-Teaching Staff came with twelve-point demand. We sat over it and agreed on all, on September 20, 2017. As I speak, the Federal Government has fully implemented the major contemporary issues such as payment of shortfalls, registration with PENCOM etc. in the agreement.

“The only grievance the unions have today is that the modality for the disbursement of the N23 billion the Federal Government released for the settlement of earned allowances is skewed against them.

“But I advised them during the negotiation to call off their strike when it entered the fifth day and quickly forward their own template for accessing this N23 billion meant for the academic and non-academic staff of the universities, since the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had already submitted. They bluntly refused and dragged the strike for weeks.”

The Minister however said that nothing has been lost and urged the unions to make a fresh case for inclusion in the 2018 budget, adding that the Federal Government was willing to address this, urging the unions to immediately call off their strike.

Ngige flawed the argument that “they only resumed an old strike,” saying that a strike which has been adequately conciliated, called off, and the terms of agreement implemented, cannot yield itself as a basis for resumption of the same action. “If the unions under JAC are embarking on a fresh strike, they are yet to comply with the relevant sections of the Labour Laws for embarking on action.”

December 5, 2017
Ngige leads quest for reform of ILO Board activities

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige is leading the quest for the reform of the activities of the Governing Board of the International Labour Organisation with a view to halting colonialism and the activities of former colonial masters in Africa and South America.

Senator Ngige who spoke on behalf of Africa deletes the 331 Session of the Governing Board of the ILO currently holding in Geneva, Switzerland, elicited the support of other regions to stop the overbearing role of France and Britain in the conduct of the Regional Meetings of the ILO.

The Minister’s speech won Africa a major milestone in the conduct of affairs of Governing Board of the International Labour Organisation following the decision to remove imperialist tendencies in the conduct of the affairs of the world body in favour of Africa.

The Minister spoke against the participation of Non-members in regional meetings other than theirs, especially in Africa and South America, describing it as a continuation of colonization and imperialism.

Sen. Ngige in his address on behalf of the Africa Region said: “with regards to participation in a Regional Meeting of a member state from another region, it bears repeating our earlier position adopting the principle that each Member State would be invited as a full member to only one regional meeting, with the Governing Body having the discretion of inviting on a case by case basis, any member state as an observer to other regional meetings.

“To continue to do otherwise is to evoke the ugly memories of the colonial era. As an independent region, our concern on the total cluster liberation of our region is well articulated in our region’s Agenda 2063. The constraint of member States with constitutional challenge should be addressed at the appropriate political forum other than at the ILO regional meetings.”

He said that Africa would work with independent member states of the ILO without interfering with internal sensitive sovereign constitutional matters of any member state.

It will be recalled that the mater of restricting regional meetings to only member states within the specific geographical expression of a given region has been a long-standing battle over the years.

The disagreement is hinged on the fact that the current practice based on Governing Board decision of March 2001, France is invited to the African Regional Meeting as a member responsible for the external relations of the Mayotte and La Reunion, two non-metropolitan territories situated in the African Region, now existing as overseas departments, and therefore an integral part of France.

This issue is often treated as a sensitive constitutional matter which members discuss with great caution and restraint for fear of incurring the displeasure of colonial masters of France and Britain.

But Nigeria’s address on behalf of the Africa Region was greeted with applause across representatives from other continents, forcing the former colonial powers to plot the frustration of the position already accepted by the majority on Tuesday Nov 7 session, by seeking the postponement of decision on the matter till 2018 and introducing strange elements into the draft, to enable them continue sitting in the Regional Meetings of other regions in the guise of representing the interest of non-metropolitan territories.

An emergency meeting of the Africa Region was hence summoned during the session’s tea break yesterday and it was decided that Africa would oppose debate on the new draft by France and Britain or otherwise, withdraw from further participation on the Governing Board as a protest.

Nigeria was again mandated to lead the debate on behalf of Africa, forcing the chairperson of the Governing Board to adopt the Africa position as other regional groups and social partners rose in support of the position that each member state would be invited as a full member to only one regional meeting with the Governing Body having the discretion of inviting on a case by case basis, any Member State as an observer to other regional meetings

It requested the office to prepare for its consideration at the 332 sessions scheduled for March 2018, a consolidated version of the Rules for Regional Meetings and Introductory note based on the guidance provided during a discussion for adoption and referral to a future session of the conference for confirmation.

November 9, 2017
FG, ASUU: Another strike looms over Oct 31 agreement

Another round of strike action is looming in the nation’s Universities as academic staff counts down to the deadline for the implementation of agreements reached with the government which led to the conditional suspension of its indefinite strike action in September.

The government had signed an agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities as a result of the strike action embarked upon by the union to press the implementation of the memorandum of understanding entered into between both parties in 2013 as well as the 2009 agreement.

A timeline of October 2017 was reached between the government and the unions for the implementation of some components of the agreement, especially the payment of shortfall in salaries and Earned Academic Allowances.

But some lecturers informed The Nation that barely one week to the end of the October timeline, the government has not implemented any aspect of the agreement, even when they claimed during negotiation that implementation has commenced.

While suspending their strike action in September, ASUU President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi had said that the union was suspending its action conditionally to pave way for government to commence implementation of the agreement, stressing that the union will not hesitate to resume the action if the government fail to meet its own aspect of the agreement.

One lecturer who would not want his name in print told The Nation that “the government has not done anything. We have not heard from them and it is just one week to the end of the October deadline. I can assure you that we are warming up and there is the possibility that from November 1, we will resume the suspended action.

“They (government) told our leaders during negotiations that they have prepared everything for the implementation. They were even brandishing some papers, especially on the earned Academic Allowance. But we have not seen anything nor heard from them.

“They were also supposed to carry our verification because of those who employed workers without permission so that the issue of shortfall in salary can be addressed. Many of us have been verified, but nothing has happened. We have not been paid. They should not take us die a ride because when we resume the suspension action not are not going to listen to any discussion.

However, ASUU President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, however, declined to say whether or not the union will call out its members at the end of October if they are not satisfied with the level of implementation of the agreement.

Prof. Ogunyemi told The Nation over the telephone that members of the union will determine the next line of action based on the level of implementation of the agreement reached between the government and the unions.

He said both parties were making progress in the implementation of the memorandum of understating signed between them, adding that the union is still engaging the government and expressed the hope that the government will keep to their promise.

He said: “We are engaging them and we are making some few progress and we hope they will keep their promise. Otherwise, our members are ready to activate their action. We are still in October, but we are on our guard.

We believe they will follow the process through and implement it fully. That is why we still engage them and we are talking. We are working with them and we hope they will continue to cooperate.

Asked whether they will embark on any Industrial action at the end of October, he said “I cannot say whether there will be any action at the end of October or not. It is what our members say that we shall do. I hope I am very clear? Our members shall determine what we shall do at the end of the deadline based on the level, of implementation”.

The government had promised to meet the demand of the unions with a promise to release of about N220 billion to the universities not later than October 2017 to fund the revitalisation of federal universities in the country and the payment of the shortfall in their salaries as well as payment of earned allowances which has accumulated.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige who promised that his Ministry will monitor the implementation the agreement reached had told newsmen after the conciliatory meeting in September that “We have concluded negotiations, the government and the leadership of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU. The ASUU negotiating team and the government discuss salient issues and most of those issues are well-known to the media but for the purposes of clarity, I can go around the grounds again.

“There’s one funding for revitalization of public universities and the issue of Earn Academic Allowances, the issue of University Staff Schools on which that there is a court judgement, the issue of National Universities Pension Management Company, and the issue of salary shortfalls for lecturers and staff of universities. There is the issue of TSA exemption and the problems in the state universities. All are the issues that ASUU felt that government should address.

“Most of these issues stemmed from the 2009 agreement that government had ASUU and also from the 2013 Memorandum of Understanding, that the government had with ASUU. Government is a continuum, most of those issues were not issues that cropped up from the Buhari administration, we inherited them.

“But be that as it may like I said, the government is a continuum. So we are to really address those issues, we inherited them but there are issues concerning the welfare of our people. So, on the issue of funding for the revitalization of public universities, this negotiating team discussed in detail and extensively on that.

“This is the fund that would be needed for the revitalization of public universities in terms of their working tools and other things needed for the effective performance of their duties.

“There was an agreement from the MoU of 2009 and that of 2013, for government to be making some quarterly payments into this fund. And from 2014 to date, it has not been possible for the government to pay or they didn’t pay. But this government has been negotiating with ASUU since last year. Today, there is a government proposal which we all agreed id workable.

“But ASUU has to take back this our proposal to their organs, so we decided that there’s an agreement for government to make some funds available in September and October to show that they are not repudiating their agreement and to also show sign of good faith.

“However, because of the inability of the government to pay the required amount which is at N220 billion, a seven-man committee was proposed and ASUU leadership is expected to send in three nominees into this committee. It’s a technical committee so to say, a working committee and they would send in the three-man nomination, the Minister of Education will appoint three persons to represent the federal government and the chairman, making four to bring the number to seven. ASUU will also send in their proposal for testing terms of reference for the committee to the minister.

“We expect that that will be done today since today is already a Friday. This committee is expected to work out the ways and means for the government and ASUU to actualize the aspirations as per the 2013 MoU.

“This is without prejudice to the Babalakin committee on the re-negotiation of the 2009 MoU between the Federal Government and ASUU.

“On the issue of Earn Academic Allowances, we have listened and payment has started in that direction.Same with staff schools. Government is though not appealing, we have agreed that the decision should be conveyed to the various universities.

“The Issue of NUPENCO was addressed and ways have been fashioned out for the registration of that company. Salary shortfalls for lecturers and university staff were also addressed and the government has shown their commitment and evidence that payments have started in order to liquidate the outstanding allowances.

“The issue of TSA exemption was also discussed and an agreement or proposal was muted by which the Central Bank would a special account for that in order for endowment funds and research grants will be exempted.

“State universities which have been the concern for ASUU and everybody who has been looking for quality education in the country was also discussed and the Minister of Education was mandated to take the memo to the council of state and the Federal Executive Council.

“Based on these discussions, ASUU leadership will consult with its organs and revert back to government within one week. They will consult with their organs with a view to calling off the strike.And we expect them that within one week, they will get back to government. These are the highlights of the meeting and I can tell you that the meeting took place in the very cordial atmosphere.”

October 24, 2017
APC best option for Igbo presidency – Oyegun

National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief John Odigie-Oyegun said on Thursday that the party remain the best option for actualizing a south-east Presidency in the nearest future.

Oyegun spoke while inaugurating a fifteen-member campaign committee for the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra state challenged the committee to work to bring the South East into the mainstream of Nigerian politics and into the progressive family.

He also challenged the committee led by Bauchi state governor, Mohammed Abubakar to mobilize the entire citizens of Anambra state for victory as the state was very important to the APC, pointing out that a victory for the party in Anambra will help address the cries of marginalization from the south-east ego political zone.

He said: “we must change the narrative in the south-east and we must start with Anambra because the APC represents the most viable root for any south-east person to the presidency of this country.”

Oyegun said that the party recognized the fact that the election will not be a bed of roses in view of the fact that there is an incumbent governor in the state, adding that “if the APC can defeat an incumbent President, we can also defeat an incumbent governor, we have done it before in Kogi and Ondo state.”

Oyegun welcomed former Deputy National Chairman to the Modu Sherrif led-faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the party, saying his presence in the committee showed that he has a lot to contribute to the development of the party.

Chairman of the committee and Bauchi state governor, Barrister Mohammed Abubakar said even though the task given to them was daunting, the members recognized the fact that it was necessary to win the Anambra governorship election and bring the zone into mainstream national politics.

He said there was the need for the party and its members to work for the success of the party in the election, pointing out that it was necessary to avoid a repeat of the defeat the party suffered during the Senatorial election in Osun state.

He said the party should capitalize on the age of the candidate to campaign for a generational shift, adding that his victory will give the youths a say and assured that the campaign committee will work to bring the state into the fold of the APC.

The leader of the party in the state and Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige assured that all the people of the state will work with the committee to ensure victory for the party in the election.

Gov. Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi, Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Nasir ElRufai (Kaduna), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Godwin Obaseki (Edo) and Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Ministers of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu.

Others are former governors Orji Uzor Kalu, Jim Nwobodo and Segun Oni; Bolaji Abdullahi, Senator Ostia Izunaso, Babafemi Ojudu, former Speaker of the House of Representative, Agunwa Anaekwe among others.

September 28, 2017
Strike: FG, non-teaching staff of universities reach new agreement

Non-teaching staff of Nigerian Universities and the federal government signed a new agreement with a view to ending their two weeks old strike embarked upon to press for the implementation of their demands.

After a conciliatory meeting with the three union which lasted for over eight hours, ending in the wee hours of Thursday, Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige assured the unions under the Joint Action Council that government will implement the agreements reached.

He said the government has agreed to address all twelves issues raised by the striking workers, including the payment of salaries shortfalls and the Unpaid earned allowances for the striking workers.

The non-teaching staff includes the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of universities (NASU).

September 21, 2017
Strike: FG, ASUU reach compromise

The Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities ( ASUU ) have reached a fresh agreement that will see striking lecturers going back to the classroom within the shortest possible time.

At a conciliatory meeting coordinated by the Minister of a Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, the government agreed to commence immediate payment of salary shortfall to the lecturers as well as the payment of quarterly revitalisation funds to universities immediately.

The ASUU leaders however promised to communicate the decisions reached at the meeting which started at 1.40pm on Thursday and lasted for about 15 hours to its National Executive Council with a view to calling of the strike and reconvene a meeting with government.within one week.

Details later

September 8, 2017
Ngige to NARD: Your strike breaches trade act

Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige has told member of the National Association of Resident Doctors that in embarking on their indefinite strike action which commenced on Monday, September 4, they violated the tenets of section 18 of the Trade Dispute Act and should have returned to the negotiation table rather than going ahead with the strike.

The Minister also accused the doctors of intimidating their employers, the Federal Ministry of Health by going ahead with the strike after signing a memorandum of terms of settlement with the government and adjourning to allow for implementation of the agreement reached.

Senator Ngige who spoke at the resume meeting between the government and the leadership of the Resident Doctors said that the Trade Dispute Act stipulates that once the Minister of Labour has began conciliation, no party in a dispute can take any action that violates the provisions of the law.

The Resident Doctors has rejected the memorandum of terms of settlement signed with the government after their meeting last week and commenced an indefinite strike action to force government to yield to their demand.

The Minister also told the striking Doctors the government has already began implementation of the terms of settlement contained in the memorandum which they rejected, pointing out that if they had consulted widely, they would not have embarked on the strike.

Senator Ngige said: “We are here for an emergency meeting to try and resolve the strike embarked upon by the National Association of Resident Doctors. You will recall that last Thursday, we were here and we had very fruitful deliberations and produced a memorandum of settlement.

“We all signed that agreement which was like a collective bargaining agreement. One of the clauses there was that NARD should revert back to their National Executive Committee, present the agreement which was a CBA with a view to shelving the strike that they had proposed. We adjourned the meeting to November 2 with which period we expected the implementation of the items on the agreement.

“We were surprised that at the NEC meeting, the CBA that was enter d into was repudiated and the Association embarked on strike. We had to contact the leadership of NARD and the leadership of the NMA and agreed to reconvene today. Therefore our meeting proposed for November 2 was brought forward so that we could meet today.

“We are meeting today in an atmosphere in which in industrial dispute relations, I do not think is very fair to the Federal Ministry of Health who are the employers of the doctors. In this ministry, we act as conciliators and in such situation.

“Even though I am a government minister, I am a Chief Conciliator. If the government is wrong, I will tell them that they are wrong. If the employees is wrong, I will say so and at the end of the day, we will find a way to conciliate and make for a equitable industrial relations.

“We are all gathered here and the Ministry of Health looks like they are already being short changed because by section 18 of the Trade Dispute Act of the Federation, T8, T9, 2004, once a conciliation starts by the Minister, no party is allowed to stage a lock out either for employees by locking them out or embark on strike against the employers.

“It is based on this ground that I say that the federal ministry of health is already being short changed because as it were, it is like the worker is trying to intimidate the employer. So, as a chief conciliator, I have drawn a line and say let us all come back and look at the issues.

“If there are issues in the CBA that NARD feels that their interest has not been properly taken care of, they would have written to the ministry and come back for this type of meeting. The alternative would not have been to embark on a proposed strike. That is not industrial relations.

“I want to pay tribute to the President of NMA for making out time to come and all areas of dispute will be resolved in this meeting so that the doctors can go back to their patients.

“For me, any other strike can be handled in a way that you don’t care about the little time you lose. But in essential services, especially in medical service, we can’t replace lives that are lost. That is why we had to reconvene this meeting few hours after you started your strike and we hope that this meeting will resolve the rough edges in the CBA if there are any.

“I can assure you even before e start this meeting that we have had a government side meeting and reviewed the agreement and want to say that within 48 hours, everybody has started implementation of this CBA.

“The Accountant General’s office has done what they are supposed to do and remitted the money from the short fall to the CBN. I feel that if you had done more consultations, you would not have taken the steps that you took. I don’t want to be legalistic about it because you have breached section 18 of the Trade Dispute Act, but all these are the sacrifices we have to make.”

September 6, 2017
Doctors shut down hospitals, reject settlement terms

Doctors in Federal Government owned hospitals across the country on Monday morning embarked on an indefinite strike action to force the government to yield to their demand, three days after their leadership signed. Memorandum of terms of the settlement with the government.

Rising from their National Executive Council meeting in Abuja, the Doctors said they were rejecting the terms of settlement signed with the government which would have seen the strike being suspended and therefore proceeded on strike.

In a notice of strike sent to Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of government owned hospitals and signed by the President and Secretary General, Dr. Onyebueze John and Dr. Aneke Emmanuel respectively, the Resident Doctors said they decided to reject the terms, but did not give reason for rejecting the offer.

The letter reads: “The National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria, rising from her extra ordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting which held on Sunday, 3rd September 2017 at Parkview Hotels, Abuja rejected the Memorandum of terms of settlement from government on the items of her demand for strike action and resolved to proceed on the proposed national total and indefinite strike with effect from 8am Monday, 4th September 2017.”

A WhatsApp message from the President of the Resident Doctors also reads: “Rising from our NEC meeting which started by 7pm on Sunday and ended 3am on Monday, NARD has resolved to has resolved to reject the promissory offer from government and proceed on total and indefinite strike action until all items in her demand list for strike action are resolved by government”.

Although the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige could be reached at the time of this report, an official of the Federal Ministry of Labour who would not want his name in print expressed shocked about the decision of the doctors to embark on the strike.

He said “we are very surprised that they decided to go ahead with the strike. During our meeting with them last week, all the issues they raised were addressed and they showed signs that they were impressed and both parties were to monitor the terms of implementation and report back on November 2 which was the agreed date for the next meeting.

“So, we are taken aback that they have decided to embark on the strike. I can not tell you the next step right now until I hear from the Minister”.

The doctors are contesting what they described as:

*Failure to pay our salary shortfall of 2016 and January to May 2017;

*Failure to rectify the salary shortfall from August 2017;

*Failure to circularize House Officers’ entry point;

*Failure to correct the stagnation of promotion of our members and properly place them on their appropriate grade level;

*Failure to enroll and capture our members on the Integrated Personnel Payment Information System (IPPIS) and

*Failure to budget, deduct and remit both the employer and employees’ contributions our pension to our retirement savings account since 2013.”

However, after a meeting between government representatives and officials of the Resident doctors and the Nigeria Medical Association on Thursday, both parties signed a memorandum of terms of the agreement, pointing out that some of the issues being complained about by the association were already being addressed by the government.

The memorandum was signed by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole. Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Prof. Stephen Ocheni, National President of the Nigeria Medical Association, Prof. Mike O. Ogirima, President of National Association of Resident Doctors, Dr. Onyebueze John and Chairman of the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, Chief Richard Egbule.

Other signatories to the memorandum were representatives of Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and the Budget Office of the Federation.

A memorandum reads in part: “The meeting noted that some Federal Tertiary Health Institutions (FHTI) have paid a percentage of salaries to Resident Doctors and are consequently in arrears of salary payments to members of NARD and Honorary Consultants.

“It was also noted that the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) had started the process of paying the shortfall of salaries owed in batches. It was therefore concluded that the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) should forward the list of the recipient FHTI to the Honourable Minister of Health to ensure that the released fund was used for its intended purpose. The payment for other FHTI not captured to be implemented before the end of October 2017.”

On the issue of shortfall in salaries, it was also agreed that “the Director Hospital Services is to address a circular/letter to the Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) and state therein that the released funds should be used solely for salaries and shortfalls. The Federal Ministry of Finance should ensure that monthly salaries are paid in full.

“Reference was made to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reached at the 7th Senate in 2014, and House of Representatives with the Speaker presiding in 2016, where Parties agreed to use the quantum of monies contained in CONHESS 9:4 for CONMESS 1:1.

“It was concluded that effect should be given to previous Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) reached on this issue so that CONHESS 9:4 would be in parity with CONMESS 1:1. The Chairman NSIWC to get this circularized, after getting the quantum from FmoH. All matters on this issue should be finalised before the preparation of 2018 Budget is concluded.

“Issues of skipping and matters ancillary thereto were discussed. The meeting noted that the Federal Ministry of Health had appealed against the ruling of the National Industrial court of Nigeria (NICN) on skipping and that a date has been given by the Court of Appeal for Hearing in March, 2018.

“It was further noted that a major issue is the improper placements on appropriate Salary Grade Levels. It was concluded that a proper guideline should be provided by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) and that Item 4 of the MoU of December 16, 2013 should be adopted.

“The Item 4 states that ‘the FMoH, NSIWC, NMA should urgently review the NMA’s proposal on skipping of CONTISS 10/CONHESS10/COMESS 2 in the new Scheme of Service with a view to amending it to reflect the suspension of the circular on unauthorized skipping of equivalent of CONMESS 2 for Medical Doctors in the Public Service.

“The amended proposal shall be forwarded to the HCSF through the FMoH for an onward presentation to the forthcoming National Council on Establishment (NCE) on 24th January, 2014 in Ilorin.” In view of this earlier position, it was concluded that the Honourable Minister of Health (HMoH) should drive this issue and that no circular should be issued on the matter until it is concluded by the HMoH.

“In view of the expected meeting of the Council of Establishment, the end of October was given as the tentative time limit to conclude the assignment by the FMoH and Office of the HCSF. Hospitals that are yet to implement skipping for doctors are to commence and henceforth, promotions should be in accordance with the Public Service Rules.

“Based on the information given by the members of NARD, it was noted that only 18 Federal Tertiary Health Institutions had so far submitted their Nominal Roll. The meeting concluded that NARD members should be on the IPPIS platform and that the CMDs as well as the MDs should be requested by the FMoH to submit their Nominal Roll to the Office of the Accountant General of The Federation (OAGF) and copy to the FMoH and FML&E on or before September 15, 2017. It was agreed that all Resident Doctors should be captured on IPPIS platform by the end of October 2017.

“It was concluded that NARD members are on Pensionable appointment and as such the FMoH in conjunction with OAGF and Budget Office of the Federation (BOF) should take necessary steps to ensure that adequate budgetary allocations are made to cover the Pension requirements of NARD members.

“Furthermore, FMoH should issue a letter in that regard to the Head Civil Service of the Federation who would correspond with the Budget Office of the Federation for necessary action, as the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) had in a letter of February 12, 2015, Ref.PENCOM/INSP/C&E/CCPA/66/15/1167 to the Honourable Minister of Health affirmed that members of NARD are “Employees”. The letter went further to define an employee as any person employed in the service of the Federation, the FCT, a Government of a State of Nigeria, Local Government Council or private company or organization or firm.

“In view of the foregoing terms of the settlement, NARD agreed to meet in an Emergency Session before Monday, September 4, 2017, for the presentation of this Memorandum to her National Executive Council with a view to averting the scheduled strike.”

September 4, 2017