Invoking the Principles of Presidential Prerogative of Mercy, President Bola Tinubu has approved the waiver of “No Work, No Pay” Order that was instituted against striking members of the National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD on August 1, 2023 following the commencement of their industrial action which began on July 26, 2023.
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.
In view of the faithful implementation of terms which were agreed upon during the fruitful deliberations between the Resident Doctors and the Federal Government, President 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 industrial 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 Unions.
The President also approved partial waiver of four months of the “No Work, No Pay” Order that was instituted against striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU following their eight-month industrial action from February 14, 2022 to October 17, 2022.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)