New "No Work, No Pay" policy for Nigerian doctors

Health Minster, Prof. Adewole

The health sector is one of those essential services that no country should be without. Yet, Nigerians have been plagued by an inability to access assistance due to the incessant strikes of medical personnel.




A recent circular from the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, demonstrates the government’s new intolerance for striking medical staff. Known informally as the “No Work, No Pay” policy, this circular is now the guiding policy for health care workers in the country. With any luck, the lack of compensation for time spent on strike will create a radical change in service delivery.

In a circular dated 15th March, 2016 with reference number MH/HRM/138/1/58, addressed to the Chief Executive Officers of University Teaching Hospitals, Federal Medical Centres and other Tertiary Health Institutions  under the Federal Ministry of Health,  the Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole  said  incessant labour disputes have been ravaging the health sector despite effors by government to revive the system.

In the circular signed by the Director Human Resources,  Mr Danjuma Kurau, Adewole called on health professionals to desist from incessant industrial action which has now become a usual occurrence in the health sector.

“Health sector is one of the essential services that are prohibited by law from embarking on strike action. However the Federal Ministry of Health has been subjected to so much ridicule and embarrassment as a result of frequent strikes by the different professionals that make up its workforce”, he remarked.

“In order to revert to path of decency and discourage impunity, all Chief Executive Officers of agencies and hospitals under the supervision of the Ministry are to strictly, enforce the No Work No Pay Policy as contained in section 43 of the Trade Disputes Act, CAP T8, law of the Federation of Nigeria”,  Adewole added.

However, he assured all health workers and other related services that their welfare would be adequately and responsibly catered for by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.