THE Federal Government on Sunday said it was not aware of any plan by the National Association of Resident Doctors to embark on strike on Monday (today).

This was just as NARD maintained that there was no going back on the planned strike.

The spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Labour, Charles Akpan, said that the ministry was not aware of the intended strike.

Akpan said, “As you are aware, this is the weekend and offices are closed. I cannot confirm if there is any document in the office concerning NARD and strike. You will have to call or contact me on Monday.”

Earlier, the President, Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi, in an interview with one of our correspondents on Sunday, revealed that the Federal Government had not reached out to the association.

Okhuaihesuyi said, “They have not reached out to us at all; so, the strike continues. We are not calling it off until our requests are attended to. It is quite sad but we apologise to Nigerians for the inconveniences.

Lagos denies slashing NYSC doctors’ pay

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has dismissed claims by NARD that it directed a reduction in the monthly payment of National Youth Service Corps doctors from N75,000 to N15,000.

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Recall that NARD, at the end of its annual National Executive Council meeting in Abia on Saturday, had  criticised Lagos for its hastiness in the implementation of a Federal Government directive to stop the enrolment of interns, house officers and NYSC members on the National Health Insurance Scheme, among others.

But the government in a statement on Sunday by the Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pension, Mrs Ajibola Ponle, maintained that at no time did the Government Issue any order to cut the allowances of NYSC doctors.

The statement titled, ‘LASG did not issue directive to reduce allowances of NYSC doctors –Commissioner,’ described the claim of the purported reduction of NYSC doctors’ allowances as false and misleading.

It read in part, “Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu remains committed to the welfare of Lagos State Government employees, particularly the health workers who have showed commitment, bravery and resilience in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The government, however, said NARD’s decision to go on strike was hasty and pleaded with the Lagos chapter of the association to show restraint and wait for the outcome of a stakeholders’ meeting to be held in the coming week.