“If doctors go on strike, people die”- Chris Ngige.

The Federal Government has warned newly-minted medical graduates not to take part in the country’s ongoing doctor strikes.

Sen. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, issued the charge on Sunday in Abuja, according to a statement signed by Charles Akpan, Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations in the ministry.

Ngige delivered the charge while speaking at the induction of six University of Abuja (UniAbuja) medical graduates into the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).

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Ngige, whose son, Dr. Andrew Ngige, is among the new inductees, urged the medical graduates to be good citizens and uphold the highest ethical standards while performing their duties.

He stated that the medical profession is a noble one, and thus they should refrain from any conduct that could bring their esteemed profession into disrepute.

“I am a medical doctor. One of you being inducted here is my second son. My first son is also a medical doctor. My daughter is also a medical doctor. By virtue of ethics, our oath as doctors is to save lives. That is our primary duty.

“If doctors go on strike, people die. That is the truth. Human life is irreplaceable. How do you bring back people who have died as a result of doctors not being at their duty posts?

“It is unethical for doctors to embark on strike. I have said it so many times in the past and I will continue to say it. Doctors should not go on strike. Therefore, you should desist from going on strike in the interest of humanity and our noble profession,” he said.

Earlier, the Registrar of the MDCN, Dr Tajudeen Sanusi, told the inductees that they were ethically bound to do certain things as medical doctors, and that anything contrary to that would be met with the council’s hammer.