16th August, 2021
By Glory Abuh-Adejoh/Abuja
The National Industrial Court (NIC) on Monday in Abuja fixed 15 September to hear an application brought by the Federal Government against striking resident doctors.
When the matter came up by way of originating summons, Justice John Targema said that the claimant’s application would be taken.
He however, directed that the defendant should appear on the next adjourned date to show cause why the ” no work, no pay” rule should not be enforced against it
Targema thereafter adjourned until 15 September, for hearing of the application from parties.
The resident doctors under the umbrella of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) began the strike on 2 August.
The strike was due to what NARD called the failure of the government to meet its demands after the government entered into a memorandum of action that led to the calling off its strike in 2020.
One of the demands was the withdrawal of the circular by the Head of Service removing House Officers from the scheme of service.
The Federal government on its part, through the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige instituted the suit against NARD over abdication of its responsibilities.
Part of the declaration as sought by the federal government is whether or not the “no work, no pay” rule should not be applied against the defendant
The suit also contains a prayer seeking an order of the court to direct the striking doctors to return to work