As Consultants Opt Out Of Strike, Resume Work Doctors, under the aegis of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), will be holding an Emergency Delegates Meeting in Abuja today to review their demands and negotiations with the Federal Government.
According to one of delegates, the meeting is called to appraise the outcome of the July 3 meeting that was held in Abuja between members of the NMA’s National Executive Council, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the minister of health and other top officials in the Federal Ministry of Health.
The source stated that the outcome of the meeting would determine whether the nationwide strike, which is in its second week, would be suspended.
He said, “We can’t call off the strike without the congress meeting. That is where we are going to decide whether or not we are satisfied with whatever agreement the executives have reached with the Federal Government. We will appraise what is on offer vis-a-vis our demands. Then we will take the stand of the house back to the government for further negotiation.
“Many of the issues raised in the letter we wrote to the Secretary General of the Federation have not been addressed and it seems that they are playing politics with a very delicate situation that may cause anarchy and division in the health sector. It was a surprise when we read in the news that the Federal government said it had reached an agreement with us.”
Doctors in federal and state-owned hospitals embarked on a nationwide strike on July 1 over issues relating to appointments of officers into choice positions in the nation’s public health institutions.
The NMA, in a 24-point demand letter to the Federal Government in June, directed that either such positions be reversed or doctors would embark on a total nationwide strike.
However, relying on the judgment of the National Industrial Court which stopped the Federal Government from implementing the agreement it had earlier reached with the Joint Health Sector Union and their planned strike, the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria has assured all patients and Nigerians of its commitment to uninterrupted and high quality health care services in all hospitals across the country.
The association urged its members nationwide to ignore the ongoing strike called by the Nigerian Medical Association, saying they should continue to provide services to patients.
The NMA President, Dr. Kayode Obeme, had said that last week’s interim injunction by the NIC has no link with the doctors’ strike as it was merely an issue between MDCAN and government.
“Every doctor is a member of NMA, other affiliates are allowed to operate also. We sought legal advice on the court injunction; our legal opinion is that the court order did not mention any reference to NMA and since it did not mention NMA, we don’t want to dwell on it,” he stated.
But the MDCAN said reports from hospitals nationwide and data collected from members after its meeting on Saturday in Ilorin, showed that members of the association – orthopaedic surgeons, obstetricians, gynaecologists, infectious diseases specialists, physicians and several other specialists- had been attending to patients in various hospitals across the country.
In a statement yesterday by its National President, Dr. Steven Oluwole, the consultants said they had been doing this “within the limits that are practicable in the current prevailing situation and circumstances.”
The meeting was to review the state of healthcare delivery in the country.
Oluwole said, “We note, without reservations, the unnecessary rivalry that has thrown the health sector into endless cycles of strikes and threat of strikes.
“The MDCAN complies fully with the restraining order on all parties, which is contained in the ruling, delivered by Hon. Justice M.N. Esowe on June 27, 2014, on the Motion Ex-Parte for an Order of Interim Injunction in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/177/2014 [Incorporated Trustees of MDCAN v. Federal Ministry of Health, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity & Attorney-General of the Federation, (pending before the National Industrial Court, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory.
“In the same vein, MDCAN expects the other parties to the above suit to comply fully with the terms of the said restraining order. Branches of the MDCAN and individual consultants should continue to provide services to patients, but should exercise their professional judgement as to the best care feasible and practicable in the current situation.
“All patients and Nigerians are assured of our commitment to uninterrupted and high quality healthcare services. MDCAN pleads with the Federal Government of Nigeria to do all that is necessary to bring a quick end to the current impasse.”
Meanwhile, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has faulted the nationwide strike embarked upon by the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA).
The union described the action as selfish, anti-people, ego-driven and provocative, insisting that such strikes by professional groups in the health sector always lead to avoidable loss of lives.
The Chairman of TUC in Rivers State, Comrade Hyginus Chika Onuegbu, told newsmen in Port Harcourt, at the weekend that it was wrong for the NMA to embark on a nationwide strike when the subject matter is before a court of competent jurisdiction.
Onuegbu said, “The nationwide strike embarked upon by the NMA is not just selfish and ego-driven but anti-people and provocative. Any strike in the health sector leads to avoidable loss of lives.
“It is therefore painful to see NMA and other professionals in the health sector embark on selfish and ego-driven strikes. This is more so, when the subject matter of the strike is before a Court of competent jurisdiction.
“This is what I have realised; there is hardly any two months that one group of professionals or the other in the health sector is not on strike. If you take time and find out why they are on strike, you will discover that there is lack of professionalism; there is rivalry.
“I understand that the matter is already in court and if a case is in court, any action you take on it is subjudice. So, one wonders why NMA will embark on an action that is subjudice or that is pre-empting the decision or outcome of a matter before a court.

Operations Officer, NEMA Operations Office Gombe, Hajiya Zainab Umar (right), presenting relief materials to an internally displaced person in a camp in Bali, Taraba State, last Saturday.