The five-day warning strike by the
Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, ends
today, but the government seems to be
busy with other issues as no action has
been taken so far to ensure the doctors
do not embark on an indefinite strike
which they threatened would commence
on January 6.
Issuing a warning in a statement at the
end of the National Executive
Committee, NEC, meeting in Abuja, NMA
President, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, and
Secretary General, Dr. Akpufuoma L.
Pemu, urged Nigerians to appeal to the
government to do the needful to avert
the full blown doctors’ strike already
scheduled to begin in the new year.
In the statement, it was confirmed that
the NEC has resolved to continue with the
warning strike action as previously
planned, until more concrete efforts are
made to meet the minimum demands of
the NMA.
“The NEC reaffirmed the earlier decision
of the Association to limit the duration
of the warning strike action in
deference to the yuletide season and as
a mark of the Association’s appreciation
of the appeals of well-meaning
Nigerians, but to commence a total strike
action (if the issues are not
satisfactorily resolved) on January 6,
2014,” they both remarked.
To further worsen the current situation
in the health sector, pharmacists, under
the aegis of the Pharmaceutical Society
of Nigeria, PSN, are threatening to team
up with the Joint Health Sector Unions,
JOHESU, to embark on strike on December
28, 2013.
President of the Pharmaceutical Society
of Nigeria, Pharm Olumide Akintayo,
however described the NMA warning
strike as uncalled for.
In a statement entitled: “Doctors’
Strike: Matters Arising”, Akintayo said it
is pertinent to observe that strike
actions by Nigerian doctors are purely
motivated by pecuniary gains.
“What goes on presently during strike
action of doctors is that they are paid
for services not rendered during strike.
Government needs to halt this by
employing doctors who are desirous to
work on locum basis as we have seen
practiced by some State Government with
great efficacy.”
According to him, pharmacists, under
the aegis of the Pharmaceutical Society
of Nigeria, PSN, have never really
supported strike actions as a means for
achieving professional privileges.
“If for any reason Government
compromises the spirit of its agreement
with Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU,
in August 2013, the Federal Government
will leave the PSN with no other choice
than to mobilize pharmacists in both the
public and private sector to join forces
with JOHESU which has given a December
28, 2013 deadline to government to
enforce the right of its members via the
agreement it reached with
representatives of the Federal
Government at its meetings of August
26th to 27th, 2013 in Abuja,” Akintayo
warned.
Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, ends
today, but the government seems to be
busy with other issues as no action has
been taken so far to ensure the doctors
do not embark on an indefinite strike
which they threatened would commence
on January 6.
Issuing a warning in a statement at the
end of the National Executive
Committee, NEC, meeting in Abuja, NMA
President, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, and
Secretary General, Dr. Akpufuoma L.
Pemu, urged Nigerians to appeal to the
government to do the needful to avert
the full blown doctors’ strike already
scheduled to begin in the new year.
In the statement, it was confirmed that
the NEC has resolved to continue with the
warning strike action as previously
planned, until more concrete efforts are
made to meet the minimum demands of
the NMA.
“The NEC reaffirmed the earlier decision
of the Association to limit the duration
of the warning strike action in
deference to the yuletide season and as
a mark of the Association’s appreciation
of the appeals of well-meaning
Nigerians, but to commence a total strike
action (if the issues are not
satisfactorily resolved) on January 6,
2014,” they both remarked.
To further worsen the current situation
in the health sector, pharmacists, under
the aegis of the Pharmaceutical Society
of Nigeria, PSN, are threatening to team
up with the Joint Health Sector Unions,
JOHESU, to embark on strike on December
28, 2013.
President of the Pharmaceutical Society
of Nigeria, Pharm Olumide Akintayo,
however described the NMA warning
strike as uncalled for.
In a statement entitled: “Doctors’
Strike: Matters Arising”, Akintayo said it
is pertinent to observe that strike
actions by Nigerian doctors are purely
motivated by pecuniary gains.
“What goes on presently during strike
action of doctors is that they are paid
for services not rendered during strike.
Government needs to halt this by
employing doctors who are desirous to
work on locum basis as we have seen
practiced by some State Government with
great efficacy.”
According to him, pharmacists, under
the aegis of the Pharmaceutical Society
of Nigeria, PSN, have never really
supported strike actions as a means for
achieving professional privileges.
“If for any reason Government
compromises the spirit of its agreement
with Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU,
in August 2013, the Federal Government
will leave the PSN with no other choice
than to mobilize pharmacists in both the
public and private sector to join forces
with JOHESU which has given a December
28, 2013 deadline to government to
enforce the right of its members via the
agreement it reached with
representatives of the Federal
Government at its meetings of August
26th to 27th, 2013 in Abuja,” Akintayo
warned.
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