Minister of Health, Adewole Issac has directed CMDs and MDs of federal government owned tertiary health institutions to fill the vacancies created by doctors whom have abandoned their training programme. This was after the federal government on 21st June, 2016 sacked striking the resident doctors in question due to their embarking on a nationwide strike on 20th June,2016 .
According to a spokesperson of the ministry, it was contained in the directive in a circular signed by Amina Shamaki (permanent secretary federal ministry of health) as follows:
"It has come to notice of the management of the Ministry that some resident doctors in your establishment have voluntarily withdrawn from the Residency Training Program by refusing to report for training without clarification. Public Service Rule, PSR 030402(e) is important.
According to a spokesperson of the ministry, it was contained in the directive in a circular signed by Amina Shamaki (permanent secretary federal ministry of health) as follows:
"It has come to notice of the management of the Ministry that some resident doctors in your establishment have voluntarily withdrawn from the Residency Training Program by refusing to report for training without clarification. Public Service Rule, PSR 030402(e) is important.
" This is in spite of the current negotiations on their demands that were put forward by the National Association of Resident Doctors representatives under the umbrella of the Nigerian Medical Association. "In view of this development, you are hereby authorized to replace all the Doctors that have being absent from their duties with other applicants in line for the post for the training programs in various fields in order no to create unnecessary break in training with attendant disruption of healthcare delivery in your facility.
" The Ministry meanwhile is working in conjunction with the panel on the review of the Residency Training Program in Nigeia, led by Prof.Wole Atoyebi Registrar of the National Postgraduate Medical College, to hasten the comprehensive blueprint for postgraduate training of doctors in the country.
"Please ensure immediate compliance".