Dr. Peter Attah, the Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in Nasarawa State, announced the suspension of the five-day warning strike during a briefing with journalists in Lafia. The decision to suspend the strike was made after an emergency congress held on Monday.
Dr. Attah stated that the primary reason for suspending the strike was to alleviate the suffering of the people in Nasarawa State. The NMA recognized the impact of the strike on the healthcare services and the well-being of the masses, and thus decided to temporarily halt the industrial action.
The NMA, as a professional body, is committed to advocating for the welfare of its members while also considering the needs and interests of the general public. By suspending the strike, the NMA aims to ensure that healthcare services can be restored to normalcy, thereby addressing the healthcare needs of the people in Nasarawa State.
During the briefing, Dr. Peter Attah also provided an update on the demands made by the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in Nasarawa State. These demands include issues related to welfare and remuneration for doctors. Dr. Attah stated that the government had not implemented promotions for doctors and annual salary increments for over nine years. Additionally, the non-implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage and consequential adjustments were also among the demands.
In response to the government’s failure to address these concerns, the NMA had embarked on a five-day warning strike from July 5 to draw attention to their demands. However, following the suspension of the strike, the NMA has given the government a two-week ultimatum to meet their demands.
The new ultimatum period will last from Monday until July 24. During this time, the NMA expects the government to address their concerns regarding promotions, salary increments, and the implementation of the minimum wage and consequential adjustments. If the government fails to meet these demands by the specified deadline, the NMA will convene a congress to decide on the next course of action.
The NMA remains committed to fighting for the rights and welfare of its members and will continue to advocate for their legitimate demands in order to ensure the well-being of healthcare professionals and the delivery of quality healthcare services in Nasarawa State.
In addition to the previously mentioned demands, Dr. Peter Attah, Chairman of the NMA in Nasarawa State, highlighted several other issues. These include the non-implementation of the reviewed hazard allowance circular and the outstanding 19 months’ arrears. He also mentioned the high burden of taxation imposed on doctors and the challenges posed by inadequate manpower and work overload in healthcare facilities.
Dr. Attah specifically raised concerns about the lack of promotions for 25 doctors who were employed in 2014 at Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH) in Lafia and the State Hospital Management Board. These doctors have not received any promotions for nine years, which has negatively impacted their career progression and motivation.
The NMA Chairman urged the public to support their cause and put pressure on the state government to meet their demands. He emphasized that the issues have been ongoing for a significant period of time, and despite previous notices and ultimatums, the government’s negotiating team has not demonstrated sincerity.
While the warning strike has been suspended for now, Dr. Attah cautioned that if the government fails to meet their demands by the expiration of the new ultimatum, the NMA may proceed with an indefinite strike. He instructed all medical doctors working with the state government to return to their offices and await further directives from the association’s leadership.
The NMA remains committed to advocating for the rights and welfare of medical practitioners in Nasarawa State and seeks to address the existing challenges in the healthcare sector to ensure the delivery of quality healthcare services to the people.