Doctors Give Notice Of Total Strike

The three-week-old strike embarked upon by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) assumed a new dimension on Saturday with threats by three other associations of medical doctors to join them if pending issues are not resolved before September 18.

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) and the Medical and Dental Doctors in Academics (MEDSABAM) unanimously agreed to join their counterparts in NARD if the Federal Government fails to resolve all the pending issues.

The threats coincided with calls by the Forum of Chairmen of Health Institutions in Nigeria (FCHIN) for quick resolution of the ongoing strike by resident doctors.

At a just concluded National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the NMA, the various medical bodies agreed to send a letter to the Federal Government to register their displeasure and give it a 21-day ultimatum, which will lapse on September 18, 2021.

The NEC frowned at the instruction for immediate implementation of the “No Work, No Pay” rule issued by the Federal Ministry of Health to the Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of Federal Tertiary Institutions.

The rule applies to all resident doctors and other medical professionals who have failed to report to work since August 2.

It will be recalled that MDCAN had on August 15 resolved to shelve its planned strike while it gave the Federal Government a four-week grace to reverse the removal of the Consultants from the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) to the Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS) by their employing universities.

MEDSABAM had also given the federal government a four-week ultimatum to resolve its issues.

Speaking with The Nation correspondent in Abuja yesterday, the Chairman of Communication and Communique of the NARD, Dr Julian Ojebo, said: “The National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) held from Wednesday till the early hours of this morning (yesterday).

“The crux of the matter was the Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors’ strike, and the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with the NMA.

“There is also the issue of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) pending strike. MDCAN gave the government a four-week ultimatum to fulfill their demands.

“Also, there was the issue of the Medical and Dental Doctors in Academics (MEDSABAM) pending strike. MEDSABAM also gave the government a four-week ultimatum.

“These and many more issues were also discussed at the meeting.

“However, the highlight of the meeting was item number 6, which was the NARD strike.

“Discussions on item number 6 lasted for seven hours where state chairmen and secretaries, alongside all the committee members, debated on the issues surrounding the NARD strike, and the need for the NMA to put forth a strongly worded letter to the government – the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

“During the meeting, most members of the NEC were made aware of the implementation of the ‘No Work No Pay’ which is against the backdrop of the signatures of the memorandum of understanding, which goes to show that government has already reneged on the MoU they had with the NMA.

“After these, motions were moved and it was unanimously agreed that a 21-day ultimatum, which expires on the 18th of September, be given to the Federal Government, after which the Nigerian Medical Association will embark on a total indefinite strike.

“If the government does not resolve all pending issues before those 21 days, the NMA will be left with nothing than to join the doctors – NARD, MDCAN, MEDSABAM, in a total indefinite strike.

“The NMA NEC also frowned at the circular from the Office of the Head of Service removing house officers from the scheme of service and ordered that the NMA approaches the Head of Service for immediate withdrawal of that circular, and also place caution on the Ministry of Health and the Office of the Head of Service of Lagos State against adopting that heinous circular from the Head of Service of the Federation.

“The meeting was attended by 37 Chairmen and Secretaries of the various NMA plus the FCT, Committee Chairmen and Secretaries, President of Affiliates and other observers.

“Also present were past presidents and secretaries and the President of the Commonwealth Medical Association, Dr Osahon Enabulele.”

Source: The Nation

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