NMA Debunks Commissioner’s Claim On Striking Workers

Prof. Amobi Ilika, Anambra Commissioner for Health, has appealed to public-spirited individuals, the media, religious and traditional rulers in the state to prevail on union leaders in the health sector to allow their striking members resume work.

Ilika told newsmen in Onitsha that most workers who have been on strike for more than five months over non-implementation of new salary structure, want to return to work, but were prevented by their union leaders.

He explained that government offered to pay the striking doctors and other health workers 50 per cent and 40 per cent of their demands, while negotiations continued.

“The truth about it is that 80 per cent of the workers want to go back to work; at least I know about the health workers: the nurses, pharmacists, and others, they all want to go to work.

“Because they have been coming to my office, saying let’s go, we want to go to work, but they have been threatened by their leaders, that is the issue.

“For the doctors, a large number of them also want to go back to work and they fear being implicated as they go to work,’’ he said.

However, Dr Emma Ekwesianya, state chairman, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), said that the commissioner’s claim was untrue as it was meant to split the association.

“Unfortunately, our unity is intact and it is regrettable that he is making such a comment but I would reserve my further comments on this issue,’’ Ekwesianya said.

Ekwesianya said that the only solace was that the House of Assembly had set up a committee to look into the strike issue.

The workers are agitating for increase in salaries and allowances, to be at par with their counterparts in other states.