The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) appears divided over calling off the nationwide strike which the association embarked on last month.
The division among members was obvious yesterday, as attempts to brief journalists on the latest developments was called off by The Secretary-General of the NMA, Dr. Adewunmi Alayaki, who pleaded with journalists to “bear with us, we will call you in 48 hours time.”
The NMA before embarking on strike had earlier forwarded 24 demands to the government including discontinuation of recognition of non-medical doctors as directors and consultants by any other health worker other than a medical doctors, the appointment of a Surgeon-General of the Federation, payment of clinical duty and hazard allowances and withdrawal of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) circular on medical laboratory equipment amongst other demand.
Those present at the meeting are NMA’s immediate-past president and delegate to the ongoing National Conference, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, another past president of the NMA and Kogi State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Omede Idris, Dr. Prosper Igboele amongst other top medical personnel.
The strike has generated accusations and counter-accusations from the NMA leaders and government respectively. The President of Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), Dr. Steven Oluwole, had last week accused the federal government of attempts at privatising hospitals and ban NMA.
The government had challenged striking doctors to a “high-powered debate” before the public on the contentious issues concerning the alleged breach of agreement which warranted the strike.
According to the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu ‘’government had fulfilled its own part of the bargain by 100 per cent and was surprised why the NMA leadership embarked on strike after the pledge to adhere to the Memorandum of understanding it signed with the government.
“The update on the strike is that they (NMA) have signed the second MoU with us on the July 3. For two times now, they have said they would call off the strike.
“Absolutely, 100 per cent of their demand had been met and that is why I insisted on a high-powered debate before the Nigerian public. Let each side state what their issues are, let’s take it one after the other. I am assuring Nigerians that as their Minister of Health, on my honour, the federal government, led by President Goodluck Jonathan, has done what it ought to do.
“That is why they signed the MoU. Why will you sign an MoU when you are not satisfied with the negotiation? These two negotiations took place for over 24 hours; that is a whole day without sleep.”
