TheCable

Chris Ngige, minister of labour and employment, has described the demands listed by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) in an ultimatum to the federal government as “absurd”.

The minister spoke in an interview with Arise TV on Monday.

On Saturday, NARD threatened to embark on strike if the government fails to meet its demands within two weeks.

The association demanded tangible steps on the “upward review” of the consolidated medical salary structure (CONMESS) and payment of the salary arrears to resident doctors.

The body also condemned the bill seeking to mandate medical and dental practitioners to practice for five years before relocating abroad.

Reacting to the ultimatum, Ngige said the demands demonstrate an “entitlement syndrome” while adding that the government has given resident doctors “everything they want”.

He added that the bill seeking to limit the migration of health workers is a “private member bill” and is beyond the authority of the executive.

“So if the national association of resident doctors whom we have been managing their matters and have given everything they want,” the minister said.

“If you decide that we have not done enough, as I have said before, you have the option to go. It is now left to the ministry of education and health to fashion out what we can do because we train people free of charge.

“They pay a small amount for education compared to their colleagues in UK and US.

“So you also asked that a bill be taken to the national assembly be removed and that is one of the reasons you want to go on strike, how can the government remove a private member bill — it is not even an exclusive bill.

“That is absurd. That’s entitlement syndrome and the sense of entitlement is too much in this country.”