Another Strike Looms In Hospitals … As NMA Gives FG Fresh Ultimatum

The Nigeria Medical Asso
ciation (NMA) has given the Federal Government a 21-day ultimatum to find solutions to various challenges confronting the nation’s medical sector.
The association also urged the government an ultimatum to pay doctors and other health workers in public hospitals their outstanding salaries because of the irregularities in implementing the centralised Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS).
The ultimatum which began Monday  is expected end on till September 23.
In a communiqué issued Monday, at the end of NMA’s National Council Meeting (NEC), which held from August 25 to September 1 in Abuja, its President, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, said the association was willing to assist in resolving the issue of the medical fitness of the Taraba State Governor and advised concerned parties to adhere by the provisions of the constitution.
“NMA is very prepared to make available its members who are professionals in various fields of medicine to constitute a medical board to resolve the lingering question of the medical fitness of the Governor and any other public or political office holder.”
The communiqué, which was  jointly signed by NMA’s Secretary-General, Dr. Akpufuoma Pemu, said there is need to address lapses in the IPPIS to reimburse the three months outstanding salaries.
“Since the beginning of the implementation of IPPIS in federal public hospitals, it has greatly undermined the welfare of doctors, many of whom have had to endure over three months of non-payment of salaries due to gross irregularities in the implementation.
“The NEC, therefore, calls on government to urgently correct the numerous IPPIS irregularities within the next 21 days with effect from September 2 to September 23 or stop the use of IPPIS as a means of payment of salaries in public hospitals until the irregularities are sorted out with a perfect innocuous system put in place,” the communiqué added.