The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has condemned the Federal Government’s threat to dock seven days’ pay from doctors’ salaries as retribution for their recent strike, describing the move as “insensitive.” The strike was held to demand the safe return of their colleague, Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, who has been missing since her abduction in December 2023 at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna.
Despite the government’s warning, doctors remain resolute. Dr. Kefas Wida, Vice President II of NARD and Chair of the association’s Medical Education Committee, dismissed the threat, saying that their focus remains firmly on securing the release of their colleague, even at personal financial cost. Speaking on Sunday, Wida underscored the association’s commitment, stating that the sacrifice of losing pay is minor compared to the life of a colleague who has endured months of captivity.
“As you all know what we stand for, we don’t blink when it comes to what we pursue, and we are not negotiating it. If removing from our salary will make us have our colleague back, which was the reason why we went on strike, we see this as the least sacrifice we can make,” Wida said. “For us, what is a salary compared to the life of our colleague?”
Wida’s comments reflect the frustration of medical professionals who feel abandoned by the authorities. The kidnapping of Dr. Popoola nearly nine months ago has not only highlighted the growing security concerns in Nigeria but also the perceived indifference of the government towards the well-being of its essential workers.
The Federal Government’s disappointment over the strike was met with a firm rebuke by NARD, which has maintained that their cause is just and that pay deductions will not deter them. Wida described the government’s focus on enforcing the “no work, no pay” policy as a diversion from the urgent issue at hand — the rescue of Dr. Popoola.
“Our members don’t care,” Wida stated defiantly. “If the removal of our salary leads to the safe return of our colleague, we are far more satisfied. It is not something we would ever regret.”
Despite the government’s punitive stance, NARD has vowed to stand its ground, insisting that threats of financial sanctions will not force them to abandon their demands. “We knew those threats from the government before we went on strike. We are ready to pursue all our demands,” Wida reiterated.
As the standoff between Nigeria’s doctors and the government continues, the unresolved kidnapping of Dr. Popoola serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by frontline workers in the country — and the lengths to which their colleagues will go to ensure their safe return.
