The Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai has threatened to sack doctors who dare to go on strike in the state amid a COVID-19 pandemic.
The doctors had threatened to on strike this week saying the state government has refused to honour several agreements, including salary adjustments between them and the state government.
The state government however expressed displeasure at the development through a statement by the special adviser to the Governor on media, Muyiwa Adekeye on Thursday.
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In the statement, El-Rufai said doctors who are willing to work during the period will be required to sign registers when they resume.
The Governor said he was taking the step to ensure that residents in the state are not deprived of health services.
“The government rejects the strike threat and will regard persons who fail to show up at their assigned places of work as having forfeited their employment,” he said.
“Every health worker that is willing to work is required to sign the register at the Ministry of Health and the health institutions to which they are deployed.
“The ministry of health has the mandate of the government to ensure that residents of Kaduna state are not deprived of public health services.
“Every effort will be made to ensure that health facilities keep functioning, staffed by willing workers who will be guaranteed free and safe access to health facilities.
“Those who are not willing to work are strongly warned against criminal actions such as attempts to impede access to workplaces, harass willing workers or to sabotage facilities and equipment.”
“Every health worker that is willing to work is required to sign the register at the Ministry of Health and the health institutions to which they are deployed.
“The ministry of health has the mandate of the government to ensure that residents of Kaduna state are not deprived of public health services.
“Every effort will be made to ensure that health facilities keep functioning, staffed by willing workers who will be guaranteed free and safe access to health facilities.
“Those who are not willing to work are strongly warned against criminal actions such as attempts to impede access to workplaces, harass willing workers or to sabotage facilities and equipment.”
“The ministry of health has the mandate of the government to ensure that residents of Kaduna state are not deprived of public health services.
“Every effort will be made to ensure that health facilities keep functioning, staffed by willing workers who will be guaranteed free and safe access to health facilities.
“Those who are not willing to work are strongly warned against criminal actions such as attempts to impede access to workplaces, harass willing workers or to sabotage facilities and equipment.”
The state government said it won’t be pressured to grant a special status to health workers among other civil servants in the state.
The consequences of concessions made along such lines by previous governments have created a sense that some public servants are more precious than others,” he concluded.