Nigeria, Nov. 4 -- The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, has explained why medical and dental house officers cannot be placed under the federal civil service scheme, saying they are not regular government employees.

Mr Salako made the clarification at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday while addressing issues raised by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), whose members are currently on strike.

The association had faulted the exclusion of medical and dental house officers from the civil service structure, a policy it said denied them proper remuneration, professional recognition, and prompt payment of salaries.

However, Mr Salako said such inclusion would be impractical and could lead to adm...