Expect total strike from Jan 6, doctors warn

Expect total strike from Jan 6, doctors
warn
on december 22, 2013 at 2:00 am in news
…as pharmacists issue own ultimatum
By Sola Ogundipe & Chioma Obinna
AS the five-day warning strike called by the
Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, ends today,
Nigerians have been alerted to brace up for an
indefinite doctors’ strike as from January 6, 2014,
even as pharmacists, under the aegis of the
Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, PSN, are
threatening to team up with the Joint Health Sector
Unions, JOHESU, to embark on strike on December
28, 2013.
Issuing the warning in a statement at the end of the
National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting in
Abuja, NMA President,  Dr. Osahon Enabulele, and
Secretary General, Dr. Akpufuoma L. Pemu, urged
Nigerians to appeal to government to do the needful
to avert the full blown doctors’ strike already
scheduled to begin in the new year.
In the statement, it was confirmed that the NEC has
resolved to continue with the warning strike action
as previously planned, until more concrete efforts
are made to meet the minimum demands of the
NMA.
”The NEC reaffirmed the earlier decision of the
Association to limit the duration of the warning strike
action in deference to the yuletide season and as a
mark of the Association’s appreciation of the
appeals of well-meaning Nigerians, but to
commence a total strike action (if the issues are not
satisfactorily resolved) on January 6, 2014,’ the duo
remarked.
In a related development, President of the
Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Pharm Olumide
Akintayo, described the NMA warning strike as
uncalled for.
In a statement entitled: “Doctors’ Strike: Matters
Arising”, Akintayo said it is pertinent to observe that
strike actions by Nigerian doctors are purely
motivated by pecuniary gains.
” What goes on presently during strike action of
doctors is that they are paid for services not
rendered during strike. Government needs to halt
this by employing doctors who are desirous to work
on locum basis as we have seen practiced by some
State Government with great efficacy.”
He said pharmacists, under the aegis of the
Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, PSN, have never
really supported strike actions as a means for
achieving professional privileges.
“If for any reason Government compromises the
spirit of its agreement with Joint Health Sector
Unions, JOHESU, in August 2013, the Federal
Government will leave the PSN with no other choice
than to mobilize pharmacists in both the public and
private sector to join forces with JOHESU which has
given a December 28, 2013 deadline to government
to enforce the right of its members via the
agreement it reached with representatives of the
Federal Government at its meetings of August 26th
to 27th, 2013 in Abuja,” Akintayo warned.