…NMA gives FG final notice, warns of system collapse
Unless urgent steps are taken by the Federal Government, medical services across the country may grind to a halt by Thursday as the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) warns it will down tools at the expiration of its 21-day ultimatum.
The association, which represents doctors nationwide, issued the warning following government’s failure to address grievances relating to remuneration and welfare.
NMA President, Prof Bala Audu said that the association would have no choice but to embark on a nationwide strike if its demands were ignored by July 23.
He said the recent circular from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, which attempted to revise allowances for medical and dental officers, was in breach of earlier agreements and unacceptable to the medical community.
“We have rejected that circular outright,” Audu said. “We expect that any new directive affecting our members should be the outcome of mutual consultation, not something imposed.”
He stressed that the issues at stake were crucial to the survival of the country’s fragile healthcare system and must be addressed urgently.
Audu revealed that while the association has held meetings with top government officials, including the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, and the Minister of State for Health, Dr Iziaq Salako, no concrete resolution has been reached.
“The last meeting held two weeks ago included all relevant stakeholders—the Health Ministers, Permanent Secretary, Director of Hospital Services, and a representative from the Ministry of Labour,” he said.
“We were meant to reconvene last week, but the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari disrupted the schedule.”
Audu explained that the next meeting is expected to involve the Ministry of Finance and the Salaries and Wages Commission whose circular triggered the protest, as well as officials from the Ministry of Health.
With the July 23 deadline fast approaching, the NMA has urged the Federal Government to take the matter seriously and act swiftly to prevent avoidable disruptions to healthcare services across the country.
“We are running out of time. If we don’t meet within the next few days and resolve these critical issues, industrial action may be inevitable,” Audu warned.
He added that doctors are not eager to abandon their posts, but would not allow government policies to undermine their welfare and the quality of healthcare delivery in the country.
The NMA had on July 2 given the Federal Government a 21-day ultimatum to withdraw the disputed circular and address other pressing demands, failing which it would initiate a nationwide strike.
As the clock ticks, Nigerians are left hoping that reason prevails and a strike that could cripple the already overstretched health sector is averted.