Doctors Suspend Nat Strike …Resume Work, Today

Striking medical practitioners in the country under the aegis of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), yesterday suspended their 55-dayold industrial action with immediate effect.
President of the association, Dr. Kayode Obembe, who addressed journalists in Abuja, subsequently, directed members to resume at their various duty posts today.
The doctors began their industrial action on July 1, 2014 over a 24-point demands bothering on welfare, condition of service and poor facilities in government hospitals.
But Obembe said the decision to suspend the industrial action was taken after the Emergency Delegate Meeting of the association, held in Abuja on Saturday.
He explained that the strike was suspended in the interest of urgent national emergencies while negotiations with the Federal Government continues.
The delegates at the meeting according to the NMA boss, however demanded the immediate reversal of the suspension of Residency Training Programme by the Federal Government.
The 10-point communique read by the president, states in part:
“Delegates demand immediate withdrawal of the government circular (Ref No C3132/V/46 of 13th August, 2014) suspending the RTP and sacking of over 16,000 resident doctors who constitute about 70 percent of doctors’ workforce in Nigeria.
“The NMA urge government, on its part, to reciprocate its goodwill in ensuring that resident doctors whose appointments were so terminated are reinstated immediately without any punitive measures.”
Obembe added that the NMA remained committed towards the health of Nigerians, and reiterate that it will not renege in her resolve and total support for government efforts to provide quality, affordable, and accessible health services for all citizens.
He said the group equally directed its members in the State Ebola Monitoring Committees to continue to liaise with their state governments to immediately set up emergency response teams for the prevention, and treatment of any outbreak of EVD in their various states.

L-R: Former Deputy Mayor of Port Harcourt,Hon Ere Victor, clan head of Ataba Kingdom, Chief Benson Egwenre and Chairman, Rivers State Post Primary Schools Board, Hon Allwell Onyesoh, during a book launch at Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, recently.