Nigerian doctors’ NEC meeting ends in deadlock, strike continues

Health Minister, Onyebuchi Chukwu

The government fails to persuade the striking doctors to return to work
The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has resolved to continue with the ongoing strike by its members all over the country.
The decision was arrived at after several hours of deliberation in a meeting which commenced Thursday evening and ended 4 a.m Friday in Abuja.
After its meeting with representatives of the Federal Government on Tuesday December 17, in which a promisory note was handed the NMA by the FG, the group of doctors had said its NEC had to meet to decide on the suspension or continuation of the industrial action.
But in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES early Friday, after the meeting, the NMA President Dr. Osahon Enabulele, said, “Yes, we finished the National Executive Council meeting at 4 a.m. this morning. NEC resolved to continue with the strike action.
“They were not satisfied with the failure of government to concretely resolve the issues. The warning strike will end at 8 a.m. on Monday.
“Full blown strike will proceed from January 6,2014″.
Doctors all over the country withdrew their services Wednesday, December 18, over government’s failure to implement agreements reached with them on issues relating to condition of service and development of the health sector.
The strike would be called off on Monday because of the yuletide but would resumed afterwards if government fails to meet the conditions spelt out by the doctors, officials said.
Already, public hospitals all over the country are grounded, with patients feeling the brunt.
Emergency wards of hospitals are however open to attend to emergencies.
In a related development, President, National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, Dr Jibril Abdullahi, has reacted to a comment by the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Health, Dan Nwomeh, describing the doctors’ strike as ‘politics of selfishness’.
Mr. Nwomeh’s comment was exclusively published by PREMIUM TIMES (http://premiumtimesng.com/news/151673-doctors-strike-health-minister-accuses-nma-politics-selfishness.html).
Dr. Abdullahi, in a mail to this reporter on Thursday, described the federal government as insincere, for failing to implement agreements reached with NARD over six weeks ago.
“I have read your report on what the media aide to the HMH said regarding the nationwide strike by NMA,” Mr. Abdullahi said.
“I wish to let you know that the FG is not sincere and for six weeks beyond the suspension of the strike by NARD, the FG is yet to implement resolutions agreed on. Thank you.”