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NMA Meets To Review Demands, Today …Doctors’ Strike Is Selfish, Anti People – TUC
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.
Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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