Following the expiration of a three-week ultimatum issued to the Nasarawa State government, the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in the state has commenced a five-day warning strike.
The NMA had previously given the ultimatum on June 13, citing welfare concerns pertaining to their members.
Dr. Peter Attah, Chairman of the NMA in Nasarawa State, announced this development during a press briefing in Lafia on Wednesday.
The decision to commence the strike was made during an emergency meeting of the NMA on Tuesday, as stated by the association’s chairman.
The chairman explained that despite having two meetings with a government delegation led by Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, the Deputy Governor, there was allegedly no serious commitment from the government to address their demands.
Due to this lack of progress, the congress unanimously agreed that members should withdraw their services from all state government-owned facilities starting from 8:00 am on Wednesday, July 5, until 8:00 am on Monday, July 10.
If the government fails to meet their demands by Monday, July 10, the association will convene another congress meeting to determine the next course of action.
The NMA chairman emphasized that, for the time being, doctors at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Keffi will continue to provide services, as the association is prioritizing the interest of the health sector.
However, if the government fails to resolve the ongoing issues by Monday, the association may extend the strike to include colleagues at FMC and private facilities.
Among the demands listed by the NMA chairman are the non-implementation of promotions and annual salary increments for doctors for over nine years. Additionally, the non-implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage and consequential adjustments are also major concerns.
The association is also requesting the implementation of a reviewed hazard allowance circular and the payment of accrued 19 months’ arrears. The high burden of taxation, inadequate manpower, and excessive workload are further issues raised by the NMA.
The chairman mentioned that 25 doctors who were employed in 2014 at Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH), Lafia, and the State Hospital Management Board have not been promoted for nine years.
According to the NMA chairman, sufficient time has been given to the state government to address these demands, but the government has displayed insensitivity to their plight.
The NMA chairman revealed that a total of 88 medical doctors have left their positions in the state’s service in 2023 alone, primarily due to poor welfare packages.
The shortage of doctors has placed a significant burden on the remaining few who have chosen to stay. This situation has reached a point where doctors now prefer to work in rural areas rather than urban facilities.
He further explained that the state’s 19 general hospitals currently have only 33 doctors, which he described as grossly inadequate by any standard.