Following due consultation and appeals from prominent stakeholders, the Kogi State chapter of the Nigeria Medical association (NMA) has suspended it’s strike action for two weeks.
Recall that Nma on Wednesday May 3rd 2017, directed its members to embark on an indefinite strike accusing the state government of owning doctors salaries and arrears, underpayment of salaries to some of their members, over taxation, and failure to elevate doctors who are due for promotions.
In a statement signed by its Chairman Dr Godwin Tijani, the suspension of the industrial action became imperative as a mark of honour to major key stakeholders in the state such as, the Attah of Igala HRM Micheal Ameh Oboni 11 , Hon Dr Friday Alih Chairman Kogi State house committee on health, the NMA National President Prof Mike Ogirima and the medical elders who pleaded with the association to call off their strike to enable them intervene in the current problems between Kogi State government and NMA.
According to Dr Tijani, NMA has agreed to suspend her strike for 2 weeks to enable the above mentioned personalities and stakeholders to mediate with the government on the way forward.
“This decision to suspend the strike was unanimously taken at the Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) of the association held at NUJ press centre, Lokoja”.
“We are going back to work for the sake of our patients despite some of our members not being paid salary for 5-15months, underpayment of salary of some of our member who have being paid, no commitment from government of Revised CONMESS and relativity and lack of promotion of our members.”
“Many of us are being sent out of our accommodation because we can’t pay rent, our children are being sent out of schools, we can’t feed our family and many of us trek to work. Since our Royal Father the Attah of Igala, NMA National President and our honourable members in the state house of assembly have requested the association to suspend and give them time to intervene, we have no choice than to honour them.”
“We will reconvene in 2 weeks to decide on the way forward if no positive progress are not made and our demand are not met. Nobody is afraid of sack or no work no pay policy. We are suspending the strike to honour those whom honour is due”. The statement reads in parts.
Dr Tijani however appealed to the general public and well meaning individuals to prevail on Kogi State government to do the needful and address the doctors grievance to avoid plunging the health sector to another round of industrial action in the next 2 weeks if nothing positive is achieved.
