The Nasarawa State Council of Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, has begun a five-day warning strike after the expiration of the three weeks’ ultimatum issued to the state authorities.
The affiliation had, on June 13 issued a 3 weeks’ ultimatum over welfare points regarding their members.
Dr. Peter Attah, NMA Chairman in the state made the disclosure whereas briefing newsmen on Wednesday in Lafia.
According to the NMA chairman, the choice to embark on the strike was taken at an emergency assembly of the affiliation on Tuesday.
The chairman stated he defined to the congress a earlier assembly with the delegation of the federal government led by Dr Emmanuel Akabe, the Deputy Governor, on two events however no critical dedication allegedly got here from the federal government.
“We meet two times after our ultimatum on June 13, but unfortunately the government is only paying lip service and was not serious about meeting our demands,” he stated.
He added that after listening to the updates, the congress unanimously agreed that members ought to withdraw their companies in all of the state government-owned services from 8:00am on Wednesday, July 5 to eight:00am on Monday, July 10.
“If by Monday July 10, the government still refuses to meet our demands, we will call for a congress meeting and decide on the next line of action,” Mr Attah added.
The NMA chairman additional stated that as a result of the affiliation has the curiosity of the well being sector at coronary heart, it determined to permit doctors with Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Keffi proceed to render companies for now.
“But if the government refuses to resolve the lingering issues by Monday, we may be forced to ask our colleagues in FMC and private facilities to join the strike,” he stated.
He listed a few of their calls for to incorporate: non-implementation of promotions for doctors and annual wage increment for over 9 years, non-implementation of N30,000 minimal wage and consequential changes.
Others are: non-implementation of the reviewed hazard allowance round and the accrued 19 months’ arrears, excessive burden of taxation, insufficient manpower and overworking.
He stated that 25 doctors who had been employed in 2014 at Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, DASH, Lafia and the State Hospital Management Board weren’t promoted for 9 years now.
According to him, the affiliation had given the state authorities sufficient time to deal with their calls for however the authorities appears insensitive to their plight.
He revealed additional that 88 medical doctors left the service of the state in 2023 alone on account of poor welfare package deal.
He defined that the scarcity of doctors is placing a lot stress on the few ones who’ve determined to remain, to the extent that doctors now desire to work in rural areas than services in city areas.
He defined that the 19 common hospitals in the state have solely 33 doctors which he described as grossly insufficient by any normal.
NAN
