Doctors Strike: FG Pays Doctors Arrears

The Federal Government said it has started paying medical doctors, most of them House Officers who are owed arrears.
The government said all House Officers would have been paid by the close of work on Wednesday, saying officers at the office of the Accountant- General of the Federation worked during the public holidays to make the payment.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, said these in a statement by Deputy Director of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Charles Akpan.

Ngige said even though some of the House Officers were recruited outside the quota allocated by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and some recruited between January and March when there was an embargo on selective recruitment by Teaching Hospitals and Federal Medical Centres, amnesty was granted to all to be paid in line with the Memorandum of Action signed with the leadership of National Association of Resident Doctors.

The Minister appealed to the resident doctors to call off the strike which entered day seven.
He said the Federal Government has not only substantially met the seven-point demand by NARD, it has also demonstrated transparency in their implementation.
Ngige noted that the doctors have lost all moral and legal ground to continue the industrial action.
The Minister said, “The House Officers have started receiving their payments in the federal government teaching hospitals and federal medical centres across the federation.
“I spoke with the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) as well as with two Chief medical directors of teaching hospitals this morning and they confirmed payment to house officers.
“By the close of work today all would have been paid as the officers at the office of the AGF worked even during the public holidays to this effect,” he said.