The Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige, has threatened to replace striking resident doctors if they refuse to return to work by Monday.
The minister who appeared as a guest on a monitored Channels Television programme on Friday said an employer has a right to replace an employee who abandons their duties, especially as it pertains to essential services.
“He will also withdraw your money and use it to pay those he has acquired during the period you were away,” he said.
“If you go to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) principles at work, it guarantees a worker the right to strike but it has consequences”.
The minister had earlier stated that he had invoked Section 43 of the Labour Act which states, in part, that for the period a worker withdraws his services, the government or his employers are not entitled to pay.
As essential workers, he also maintained that they are not expected to go on strike without notifying him at least 15 days prior.
While the doctors continue to call on the government to fully take up its responsibilities, the Federal Government has insisted that most of the issues they have raised are state affairs.
Minister of Health Dr Osagie Ehanire had told journalists in Abuja on Thursday that seven of 12 matters that were raised by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), were the responsibility of state governments.
Consequently, he said they were expected to resume work on Friday and take up the issues with the state governments rather than embark on the nationwide strike as they had done.
The Labour Minister has, however, vowed to escalate the matter, should they fail to resume work by Monday, the expiration of the 1-week ultimatum he gave them.
“Next week, I will escalate it because the conciliation has failed and the law says that if conciliation fails on my own side, I can move it up.
“Avoiding the use of the word ‘sack’, Ngige said; there are other things that are permitted by law. I will invoke other things.
“Their employer has a right to replace them. It doesn’t matter what you want to term it. We can use Locum doctors or medical officers,” he said.
Health care in Nigeria ‘fairly okay’
Meanwhile the minister also rated the health care system in Nigeria as “fairly okay”.
Although he is not outrightly against seeking medical attention abroad, the minister believes it is not out of place for Nigerians to stay back and get treated in the country.
“What are you going abroad to do, the expertise is here (in Nigeria),” the minister said.
“Plenty of billions has gone into health. For me, if you have the means and you want to do a second opinion abroad, why not? It is permitted.
“I have my daughter (and son) here, I deal with them. Not that any time I want to do medical check-up abroad I don’t do that, I do that.”
Over the years, many Nigerians – including the President and other top public office holders – seek medical attention abroad.
While many have condemned the practice, others asked the authorities to invest in the health sector and upgrade the nation’s medical facilities to world standard to discourage medical trips abroad.
Comparing the level Nigeria has attained in the field of medical science to other countries, Ngige admitted that the nation still lacked some advancements.
According to him, the Federal Government has performed its functions well to have the health sector on the concurrent list.
The minister thinks the government deserves to be commended considering the nation’s political situation and others.
“On an average note, medical treatment here is fairly okay as far as I am concerned,” said Ngige who is also a medical doctor.
“I use the National Hospital (in Abuja), my card is there; I use the State House clinic for my eyes; I use another private hospital here.”