Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has said that its December 14, 2013 deadline issued
to the Federal Government to embark on industrial action may not be extended going by the levity and lack of
concrete commitment so far exhibited by the government.
Dr Osahon Enabulele, NMA President in a statement on Wednesday alerted Nigerians about the imminent
collapse of health services across the entire country.
He said the blame should rest squarely at the door step of the government should medical personnel embark on
industrial action, giving the apparent levity and lack of concrete commitment so far exhibited by the Government.
Besides, Enabule said that government attention to issues bordering on workplace conditions and injustice meted
out to doctors in their conditions of service and funding/ infrastructural and equipment upgrade of the health
sector have not received any significant attention.
According to the statement, " Efforts by the NMA to engage the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Health even
at this eleventh hour collapsed following the unserious approach and attitude of the leadership of the Federal
Ministry of Health who seem to be less bordered about the potential crisis which may erupt in Nigeria’s health
sector from Saturday, December 14, 2013.
"Therefore the Nigerian Medical Association most distressingly alerts the entire nation about the imminent
collapse of health services across the entire country given the apparent levity and lack of concrete commitment so
far exhibited by the Government through the Federal Ministry of Health."
The statement further pointed out all the efforts by the association to ensure that the issues were resolve
without any recourse to industrial action.
It explained that the association had granted extension on more than two occasions.
"For over five months now, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the umbrella body for all medical and dental
practitioners in Nigeria, has recurrently engaged the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Health,
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, on issues
bordering on some health sector challenges, workplace conditions and the conditions of service of doctors,” the
statement said.
"On the 2nd September, 2013 the Nigerian Medical Association issued a 21day ultimatum to the Federal
Government of Nigeria to address the issues tabled by NMA. However, based on the understanding reached
following the intervention of the Honourable Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu CON, the
NMA decided to extend her ultimatum by four weeks at her emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting
held in Abuja on September 22, 2013.
"Following the expiration of the additional four (4) weeks grace granted to the Federal Government, the NMA
again magnanimously extended twice the ultimatum on account of the Government’s constitution of a
Presidential Committee and promise to speedily resolve the issues contained in the requests of the NMA. Sadly,
since the report of the Presidential Committee was submitted to the Secretary to the Government of the
Federation, only the re-constitution and inauguration of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria has been
achieved. The attention of the government to other issues bordering on workplace conditions and injustice meted
out to doctors in their conditions of service and funding/ infrastructural and equipment upgrade of the health
sector have not received any significant attention.
"On account of the foregoing, it may be difficult to guarantee further extension of the grace period and
consequently, industrial harmony in the health sector, especially as the December 14, 2013 deadline issued to
the Federal Government to concretely resolve the demands of the NMA draws closer."
to the Federal Government to embark on industrial action may not be extended going by the levity and lack of
concrete commitment so far exhibited by the government.
Dr Osahon Enabulele, NMA President in a statement on Wednesday alerted Nigerians about the imminent
collapse of health services across the entire country.
He said the blame should rest squarely at the door step of the government should medical personnel embark on
industrial action, giving the apparent levity and lack of concrete commitment so far exhibited by the Government.
Besides, Enabule said that government attention to issues bordering on workplace conditions and injustice meted
out to doctors in their conditions of service and funding/ infrastructural and equipment upgrade of the health
sector have not received any significant attention.
According to the statement, " Efforts by the NMA to engage the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Health even
at this eleventh hour collapsed following the unserious approach and attitude of the leadership of the Federal
Ministry of Health who seem to be less bordered about the potential crisis which may erupt in Nigeria’s health
sector from Saturday, December 14, 2013.
"Therefore the Nigerian Medical Association most distressingly alerts the entire nation about the imminent
collapse of health services across the entire country given the apparent levity and lack of concrete commitment so
far exhibited by the Government through the Federal Ministry of Health."
The statement further pointed out all the efforts by the association to ensure that the issues were resolve
without any recourse to industrial action.
It explained that the association had granted extension on more than two occasions.
"For over five months now, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the umbrella body for all medical and dental
practitioners in Nigeria, has recurrently engaged the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Health,
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, on issues
bordering on some health sector challenges, workplace conditions and the conditions of service of doctors,” the
statement said.
"On the 2nd September, 2013 the Nigerian Medical Association issued a 21day ultimatum to the Federal
Government of Nigeria to address the issues tabled by NMA. However, based on the understanding reached
following the intervention of the Honourable Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu CON, the
NMA decided to extend her ultimatum by four weeks at her emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting
held in Abuja on September 22, 2013.
"Following the expiration of the additional four (4) weeks grace granted to the Federal Government, the NMA
again magnanimously extended twice the ultimatum on account of the Government’s constitution of a
Presidential Committee and promise to speedily resolve the issues contained in the requests of the NMA. Sadly,
since the report of the Presidential Committee was submitted to the Secretary to the Government of the
Federation, only the re-constitution and inauguration of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria has been
achieved. The attention of the government to other issues bordering on workplace conditions and injustice meted
out to doctors in their conditions of service and funding/ infrastructural and equipment upgrade of the health
sector have not received any significant attention.
"On account of the foregoing, it may be difficult to guarantee further extension of the grace period and
consequently, industrial harmony in the health sector, especially as the December 14, 2013 deadline issued to
the Federal Government to concretely resolve the demands of the NMA draws closer."
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