News
Shock as resident doctors begin strike over salaries
The Federal Government last night expressed “deep shock and utter disappointment as Resident Doctors began yesterday an indefinite strike to press home their demand for better pay.
The action is coming three days after their leadership signed a memorandum of terms of settlement with the government.
Ministry of Labour and Employment spokesman Samuel Olowookere, in a statement, said the Federal Government was disapointed over the sudden u-turn by the leadership of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD ) after it had reached a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the Federal Ministry of Health on its six-point demand.
He added: “Minister of Labour and Employment Senator Chris Ngige, “in exercise of the powers conferred on him by the Trade Dispute Act 2004, has apprehended the ongoing strike by NARD. Consequently, the meeting between NARD and the government earlier scheduled for November 2 is now slated for Wednesday, September 6, 2017 (tomorrow) by noon at the Conference Room of the Minister of Labour and Employment. ”
“All stakeholders are implored to attend this crucial meeting. The health and well-being of Nigerians are cardinal to President Buhari’s administration. Hence, every measure necessary shall be taken to restore normalcy”.
Rising from their National Executive Council meeting in Abuja, the doctors said they were rejecting the terms of settlement, which would have seen the strike being suspended.
But the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) warned doctors on internship not to join the strike.
They risk repeating their programme, if they do, it said.
In a notice of strike sent to chief medical directors and medical directors of hospitals and signed by the President and Secretary General, Dr. Onyebueze John and Dr. Aneke Emmanuel, the resident doctors said they rejected the terms, but did not give any reason for doing so.
The letter reads: “The National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria, rising from her extraordinary 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 and resolved to proceed on the proposed national, total and indefinite strike with effect from 8am Monday, 4th September 2017.”
A message from the President of the Resident Doctors also reads: “Rising from our NEC meeting which started by 7pm yesterday (Sunday) and ended 3am today (Monday), NARD resolved to reject the promissory offer from government and proceed on total and indefinite strike until all items in her demand list are resolved by government.”
The doctors are contesting what they described as the government’s failure to:
pay our salary shortfall of 2016 and January to May 2017;
rectify the salary shortfall from August 2017;
circularize House Officers’ entry point;
correct the stagnation of promotion of our members and properly place them on their appropriate grade level;
enroll and capture our members on the Integrated Personnel Payment Information System (IPPIS) and
budget, deduct and remit both the employer’s and employees’ pension contributions to our retirement savings account since 2013.
After a meeting between the government’s representatives and officials of the doctors’ association and the Nigeria Medical Association on Thursday, both parties signed a memorandum of terms of 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, Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole. Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Prof. Stephen Ocheni, National President of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Prof. Mike O. Ogirima, National Association of Resident Doctors President Onyebueze John and of the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission Chairman Richard Egbule.
Other signatories are 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.
The memorandum reads: “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 shortfall in salaries, it was 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 circularised, 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 unauthorised 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 of the 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”.
“In view of the foregoing terms of 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.”
The headquarters of Heritage Bank at Victoria Island, Lagos, was besieged on Thursday by members of the labour union, protesting the recent dismissal of 1,000 support workers.
The National President of the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees, Comrade Anthony Abakpa, led the demonstration, condemning the bank’s management for what he deemed a lack of adherence to due process in the termination of employment contracts.
Speaking during the protest, Comrade Abakpa asserted that the leadership of Heritage Bank failed to follow established protocols before executing the mass layoffs.
He emphasised the union’s commitment to pursuing justice for the affected workers, vowing to escalate their demands until the bank’s management rectifies the situation.
“We will intensify our demands for justice,” declared Comrade Abakpa, urging the bank’s management to take corrective action to address the grievances of the dismissed workers.
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, clarified that Nigeria is not utilising its foreign reserves to bolster the naira, despite recent fluctuations in reserve levels.
Speaking from Washington DC, where he is attending the International Monetary Fund-World Bank Spring Meetings, Cardoso highlighted the influx of $600 million into Nigeria’s reserves account within the past two days.
While the naira has experienced a notable appreciation against the dollar in recent weeks, climbing over 40% from approximately N1,900/$ to about N1,000/$1, Nigeria’s foreign reserves have been dwindling. As of April 15, reserves dropped to approximately $32.29 billion, marking the lowest level in over six years.
Cardoso emphasised that the shifts in reserves are typical for any country, where various financial obligations, such as debt repayments, necessitate withdrawals.
He stated, “What you’ve seen with respect to the shift in our reserves is normal in any country’s reserves where, for example, debts are due and certain payments need to be made. They are made because that is also part of keeping your credibility.”
Continuing, Cardoso underscored the dynamic nature of the market, advocating for a system driven by willing buyers, willing sellers, and price discovery.
He emphasised, “The shift in our reserves has really little or nothing to do with defending the naira, and that is certainly not our objective.”
Dangote Petroleum Refinery has made headlines by announcing a further reduction in the price of diesel, dropping it from ₦1200 to ₦1000 naira per litre.
The refinery’s decision comes on the heels of its recent supply at a significantly reduced price of ₦1200 per litre, which was introduced three weeks ago, signifying a remarkable 30 per cent decrease from the previous market price of approximately ₦1600 per litre.
This substantial reduction in diesel prices at Dangote Petroleum Refinery is expected to reiterate positively throughout various sectors of the economy, potentially serving as a catalyst in alleviating the persistently high inflation rate in the country.
In a statement last week, Aliko Dangote, Africa’s wealthiest individual and the owner of the refinery, expressed his optimism regarding the potential impact of the price reduction on inflation in Nigeria.
“I believe that we are on the right track. I believe Nigerians have been patient, and I also believe that a lot of goodies will now come through. There’s quite a lot of improvement because if you look at it, one of the major issues that we’ve had was the naira devaluation that has gone very aggressively up to about ₦1900,” he remarked.
As anticipation builds around the implications of this move by Dangote Petroleum Refinery, stakeholders and consumers alike remain hopeful for the positive effects it could bring to the Nigerian economy in the coming months.
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