Business
Reprieve, As Doctors Suspend Planned Strike
A view of the 9th Port Harcourt International Trade Fair, during the opening ceremony at Isaac Boro Park on 22nd November, 2013.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Abuja on Sunday announced the suspension its plan for its members to embark on an indefinite strike from Monday.
The President of NMA, Dr Osahon Enabulele, said in a statement that the strike was suspended to allow for full implementation of all elements of the agreement between the association and the government within set time lines.
“Some of the welcome developments in the implementation of the MoU reached between the NMA and the Federal Government of Nigeria include the decision by the Federal Government to redress the gross injustice done to doctors.
Others are the “establishment of a Hospital Development and Intervention Fund for health infrastructure upgrade, appointment of a Surgeon-General of the Federation and expansion of Universal Health Coverage,” Enabulele said.
It would be recalled that the association had embarked on a five-day warning strike from Dec. 18 to 22, 2013, over the demands.
It had announced a plan to proceed on an indefinite strike from Jan. 6 if its demands were not met.
The association had demanded proper funding of health care in Nigeria, provision of a regulatory environment for practice in the health sector and the expansion of universal health facilities to cover all Nigerians.
Others demands are the upgrade of health infrastructure, elimination of fundamental injustices done to doctors in terms of workplace conditions/conditions of service as well as other health sector challenges.
“The NMA convened an emergency National Executive Council meeting in Abuja on Saturday, January 4 to reappraise the efforts made so far to meet its demands.
“The resolve to suspend the strike is as a result of the possible impact of the withdrawal of services by medical and dental practitioners in Nigeria on ordinary Nigerians,” he said.
Enabulele also acknowledged “several honest appeals made by well-meaning people of Nigeria and our friends in the fourth estate of the realm for more time to be given by NMA for dialogue with government.”
He applauded the ongoing efforts and commitment of President Jonathan to address some of the association’s demands.
“Payment of tuition fees for undergraduate/postgraduate studies shall be subject to a maximum limit of $25,000.00 per semester,” the Manual states.
The expansion of international card limits also reflects growing confidence among lenders that foreign exchange liquidity has improved enough to support retail dollar transactions.
Speaking recently at the BusinessDay 14th Annual CEO Forum in Lagos, CBN Olayemi Cardoso, governor of the CBN said buying and selling activities now increasingly determine outcomes in the foreign exchange market, unlike in the past when market participants relied heavily on routine Central Bank interventions.
According to Cardoso, Nigeria’s net foreign exchange reserves have risen from just over $3 billion at the start of the reform programme to more than $40 billion, while gross reserves have climbed to about $52 billion, providing stronger confidence for investors and enabling the Central Bank to reserve interventions for periods of market stress rather than day-to-day liquidity management.
The restoration and expansion of international naira card spending limits are increasingly being seen as one of the clearest signs that the benefits of the CBN’s foreign exchange reforms are beginning to reach households, students and businesses making legitimate cross-border payments.
The Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer, WEC, Dr Angela Wilkinson, disclosed this in a statement, last Thursday.
“Nigeria’s participation comes at a pivotal time as the country seeks to expand energy access, strengthen energy security, accelerate gas development and mobilise the capital required for industrialisation and sustainable economic growth.
“WEC Nigeria will convene leaders from across the energy ecosystem, apply the WEC’s globally recognised Energy Trilemma framework to Nigeria’s unique context, and promote evidence-based dialogue, practical collaboration and informed policymaking.
“It will also ensure that Nigerian and broader African perspectives contribute meaningfully to global energy conversations,” she said.
Wilkinson expressed confidence that Nigeria would play a significant leadership role at the World Energy Congress scheduled for Riyadh in April 2027 and beyond.
The statement also quoted the Chairman of WEC Nigeria, Isa, as describing the country’s participation as an opportunity to deepen national and African leadership within the global energy community through practical solutions tailored to regional development priorities.
He said the platform would promote collaboration across sectors and attract sustainable investments into Nigeria’s energy sector.
The Chief Executive Officer of WEC Nigeria, Wunti, was quoted in the statement as saying that the council would connect leadership, evidence and investment to build a secure, affordable and sustainable energy system.
“This system will be capable of driving economic growth and shared prosperity.”
According to him, the platform will also connect Nigerian institutions and businesses with international knowledge, technology, partnerships and investment opportunities through the World Energy Council’s global network.
Recall that WEC, founded in 1923, is the world’s oldest independent and impartial community of energy leaders and practitioners, advancing informed, collaborative and practical action across the global energy system.