The Nigerian Medical Association has given the Federal Government a 21-day ultimatum to reach a common ground with the National Association of Resident Doctors in a bid to end the ongoing nationwide strike embarked upon by the latter.
In a statement jointly signed by its President, Prof. Innocent Ujah, and Secretary-General, Dr Philips Ekpe, the NMA said the Federal Government should resolve all pending issues with NARD in the interest of all.
The statement, made available to journalists on Sunday after NMA’s National Executive Council meeting held between August 22 and 28, in Benin, read that it would not allow any doctor to be victimised for participating in the strike instituted by NARD.
The statement reads, “The various industrial disputes involving the different affiliates of the association was exhaustively reviewed.
“After due consideration, NEC put the Federal Government on a 21-days notice to fully resolve all the issues contained in the various agreements signed with the affiliate members of the NMA, including NARD, MDCAN, and MEDSABAMS.
“The Nigerian Medical Association fully supports all her affiliates in their efforts to improve healthcare delivery in Nigeria and the welfare of her members. NEC affirms that no doctor shall be victimised for participating, or not participating in the strike by NARD.
“If the FG fails to implement the agreements after the expiration of the 21-days notice, NMA shall summon an Emergency Delegate Meeting to review the progress made on the implementation of the agreements,” it stated.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the NARD commenced a nationwide strike on August 1, after the three months it gave the Federal Government to implement the terms of the MoU it signed with the association in April elapsed.
Since the commencement of the strike, the National Assembly made attempts to intervene in the matter by holding meetings with the NARD leadership without a headway.
In an earlier interview with NAN, the NARD Publicity Secretary, Dr Dotun Oshikoya, accused the FG of being indifferent towards its demands, saying that this action had also frustrated NASS, forcing it to “take off its hands” from the matter.
“The executive arm of the government is not doing anything to implement our demands, and the NASS can only be a mediator and make recommendations; they cannot do their work for them,” Oshikoya said.
