BREAKING: NMA threatens strike, issues ultimatum to FG

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has issued a 21-day strike notice to the federal government with effect from tomorrow, Monday.

Solacebase reports that the strike of the resident doctors is currently in the fourth week.

Nigerian Medical Association at the end of her National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Benin City, Edo State held from August 22 to 28, the association and all the affiliates resolved to give the federal government 21-day notice to fully resolve all the issues contained in the various agreements signed with the doctors.

This was contained in a statement jointly signed by the NMA President, Prof. Innocent Ujah, and Secretary-General, D.r Philips Uche Ekpe.

The association said: “After due consideration, NEC has put the federal government on a 21-day notice to fully resolve all the issues contained in the various agreements signed with Affiliate members of the Nigerian Medical Association, including MDCAN, MEDSABAMS and NARD.”

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It further said that NMA fully supports all her affiliates in their efforts to improve the healthcare delivery in Nigeria and the Welfare of her members.

“NEC affirms that no doctor shall be victimised for participating/not participating in the strike action by NARD.

“In the event that the federal government fails to implement the agreements after the expiration of the 21- day notice, NMA shall summon an emergency delegate meeting to review the progress made on the implementation of the agreements.”

Although, the federal government said it has set aside the sum of N4.8 billion as a residency training fund for the striking resident doctors in the country.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, who disclosed this at the weekend during a meeting with the Chairman of the Forum Chairmen of Health Institutions in Nigeria (FCHIN), Dr Sam Sam Jaja, said that the leadership of the NARD gave the government an impossible condition before they would agree to sign the MOU reached at the last conciliatory meeting.

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He said the resident doctors wanted the government to exempt them from the application of Section 43 of the Trade Dispute Act that provides for ‘no work, no pay’ sanctions for striking workers.

While giving an update on the efforts being made to meet the demands of the doctors, Ngige said that the implementation of the MOA signed on August 21 with the doctors was on course.