Following the expiration of the three-week ultimatum issued to the state government, the Nasarawa State Council of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has commenced a 5-day warning strike.
The state’s medical association announced that the strike will start at 8am July 5th 2023, and come to an end at 8am on July 10th, 2023.
Based on reports, the medical association gave a three- week ultimatum to the government regarding welfare issues that are affecting their members.
The NMA chairman stated that the association’s decision to go on strike was made at an emergency meeting held on Tuesday.
The chairman explained to the congress that he had previously met with the government delegation led by Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, the Deputy Governor, on two occasions but alleged that no serious commitment was made by the government.
After hearing the responses, the congress collectively agreed that the members should seize their services from all state government-owned facilities.
He added that if the government did not take their complaints seriously and address them by Monday, they would be forced to ask their colleagues in the private facilities to join the strike.
Some of the complaints were: -lack of salary increment for over 9 years -non-implementation of N30,000 minimum wage -non-implementation of promotions for doctors and other significant adjustments.
He stated that the association had provided the state government with enough time to address their demands but the government appeared indifferent to their condition.
He further disclosed that a total of 88 doctors had left the state’s service in 2023 alone because of unsatisfactory welfare packages and that hospitals in the state have a shortage of medical personnels.
