With the strike by university teachers entering the fourth week, the Nigeria Medical Association has threatened to declare a nationwide strike, following the alleged reluctance of the Federal Government to issue a circular on the implementation of the Nigeria Medical Salary Structure (NMSS), more than 10 years after the agreement was signed.
The chairman of the South-West Caucus of the Association, Niyi Oginni told reporters at the end of a meeting of the association at Continental Suites, Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Sunday that doctors in public service are tired of the ‘refusal’ of the Federal Government to issue the necessary circular.
Mr. Oginni said Nigerian doctors had exercised restraint over embarking on strike because of their roles in the health sector and the likely consequences of such an industrial action. He said the time was ripe for the Federal Government to reciprocate this gesture by acceding to their request.
The NMA leader accused the government of paying lip-service to the implementation of the new salary structure and urged well-meaning Nigerians to compel it to issue the circular.
“Nobody can say what will happen if the circular is not signed before the July 18 meeting of the association,” he said. “With the meeting of the NMA and the Federal Government, which included the Salary and Wages Commission, we thought the issue should have been concluded.” He said the realisation of the medical salary structure, was further worsened by the introduction of the Consolidated Salaries Scale (CSS).
The doctors had earlier threatened to start a nation-wide strike last April, but they shelved the plan following a presentation made by the Minister of Health, Babatunde Oshotimehin at the April meeting.
The emergency delegate meeting of the Association, which was held last May at Abuja, deferred further action on the strike till July 18, when another national executive council meeting of the Association would hold.
Looming industrial dispute
Mr. Oginni explains: “Our position at this meeting is that the industrial dispute which is looming can be averted. By this, we are saying that doctors do not want to go on strike.
“We have pursued this issue for the past 11 years. We have exhausted all avenues of dialoguing. The ultimatum is expiring on 18th of July, 2009 and we don’t want to go on strike.
“We are therefore imploring and appealing to all well meaning members of the public, including members of the National Assembly, Federal Executive Council, members of the Civil organisation to help us implore the Federal Government to expedite action towards the release of an enabling circular on the re-introduction of Medical Salary Scale in Nigeria.
“This industrial action should not be allowed to take place by all meaning Nigerians in the overall interest of all Nigerians. However, the South West Caucus of the NMA will not have any choice but to abide by the decision of the national executive council of the Association come July 18, 2009.”