President Bola Tinubu has granted an exemption from the “No Work, No Pay” directive imposed on the striking National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).
This waiver now allows the members of NARD to receive the salaries which were previously withheld during the 17-day strike action, held between July 26th and August 1st,2023.
A statement from the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale made these known on Friday.
Ngelale confirmed that the waiver, approved by the President will be the final one provided to the National Association of Resident Doctors and other Health Sector Unions.
He also stated that the waiver was granted based on the Principle of the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy.
“After several constructive engagements between the Federal Government and NARD, the Resident Doctors called off their strike on August 12, 2023.
The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation was directed to withhold all salaries accrued by striking NARD members during the 17 days of their strike action.
“Given the faithful implementation of terms which were agreed upon during the fruitful deliberations between the Resident Doctors and the Federal Government of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has directed the grant of an exceptional last waiver of the “No Work, No Pay” Order on Resident Doctors, which will allow for the members of the NARD to receive the salaries which were previously withheld during the 17-day strike action.
“The President has directed the grant of the waiver with a mandatory requirement that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment must secure a Document of Understanding (DoU) establishing that this exceptional waiver granted by the President will be the last one to be granted to the National Association of Resident Doctors and all other Health Sector Union,” Ngelale added.
