The Nigerian Medical Association on Thursday in Abuja dissociated itself from the proposed strike by health workers in Nigeria over alleged breach of agreements with government, describing it as illegal.
“The NMA will however wish to caution that issues which have been concluded in the past negotiations or supported by government circulars and memoranda should not be reinvented or distorted in this impasse,” the association warned in a statement by its Chairman, Publicity and Publication Committee, Dr. Obitade Obimakinde.
The organisation also called on security agencies to beef up security around hospitals and give maximum protection to doctors.
The Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations had threatened to embark on a nationwide strike following the expiration of their two weeks ultimatum.
Obimakinde informed Nigerians that doctors were not part of the planned withdrawal of services in hospitals nationwide by health workers
He said, “Medical doctors are reporting promptly and available at their duty posts. We are carrying out the responsibilities of saving lives as much as possible within the limits of available facilities and resources provided by the hospitals. We also call on the law enforcement agencies to intensively guarantee protection of doctors in the discharge of their legitimate duties.”
The workers had earlier handed the government a 15-day ultimatum with effect from February 3, 2016, to accede to their 10-point demand or risk nationwide strike.