Doctors’ strike: Reps, NMA meeting ends in deadlock

By Umar Muhammad Puma

The meeting summoned by the House of Representatives with a view to resolving the lingering crisis between the federal government and Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has ended in a deadlock.

The meeting, which was chaired by chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Health, Rep. NdudiElumelu, (PDP Delta), however urged federal government to include the sum of N6.7 billion required for the payment of relativity for a year in the supplementary budget that will be transmitted to the National Assembly.

Some of the lawmakers, who called for the suspension of the on-going nationwide strike action, expressed concern over the increasing death rate of patients in major public hospitals across the country.

In his remarks, Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu, stressed the need for the striking doctors to suspend he strike while negotiation continues, arguing that 23 out of the 24 demands have been assigned to respective personnel to address.

He acknowledged the delay in acceding to the demands, just as he requested for between 30 days to three months ultimatum to enable federal government to address all the issues especially the outstanding debts.

He stated that the President had set up a committee chaired by the former SGF, Yayale Ahmed to address various issues, while the dental workers have taken other issues before the National Industrial Arbitration Court.

In his presentation, Onyebuchi Chukwu, Minister of Health, who lauded the House for the intervention, expressed the readiness of the federal government to ensure peaceful resolution of the crisis.

While reacting to various issues raised by the lawmakers and government representatives, the NMA President, Kayode Obembe vowed that the association will not suspend the strike until the federal government resolve two pertinent issues, namely ‘Relativity and Skipping’.