The Rivers State Government has threatened to invoke the no-work-no-pay policy against striking resident doctors in state-owned hospitals.

Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Tammy Danagogo, in a statement on Tuesday said the strike should be restricted to resident doctors that are directly under the payroll of the Federal Government.

Danagogo said resident doctors in the state are not owed and directed them under the employment of the state government to call off the strike and return to work within 24-hours or risk their salaries and sack.

The statement titled, ‘Government Special Announcement’ reads,” Sequel to the ongoing strike action by the Rivers State chapter of the National Association of Resident Doctors 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.

“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.”

Recall that resident doctors in the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital joined the indefinite nationwide which started on Monday, saying the state government was yet to pay Covid-19 inducement hazard allowance, among others.

Source:- Punch Ng