No work, no pay, Oshiomhole tells striking doctors

December 19, 2013


Oshiomhole with Dr. Eghe Abe

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of the southern Nigerian state of Edo Thursday reprimanded doctors for joining the ongoing nationwide strike by doctors in federal employment.

Oshiomhole at a meeting with the Association of Resident Doctors, Medical and Dental Consultants Association in Government House in Benin, described the warning strike by the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), as provocative, illegal, avoidable and unnecessary.

“If you have any grievances you are obliged by law, you are obliged by tradition, you are actually compelled by your own oath not to abandon your patients off as if there is pleasure. The facts are not in dispute because doctors under in the employment of Edo State Government are not staff of the Federal Government.

“The Federal Government has no hand in your employment, no hand in your promotion and they have no hand in your posting. How we find money to pay, the Federal Government has no hand in it. So, I believe therefore, that even if we are to talk in the context of employer-employee relationship, you are obliged by law to state the particulars of your grievances to your employer,” he said.

According to the governor, there was nothing in the convention or the law that allows the doctors to simply walk out of their job, adding that the fact that their colleagues under Federal employment had dispute and they sought meeting with the Minister of Health, those were meetings between their colleagues and the Federal Government, asking how is Edo State a part of such meeting.

“I expect that if you feel obliged to go on that strike, I think you should inform us that the strike is inevitable. I do understand the logic and essence of solidarity, but in this business, before you resort to solidarity action, people who are themselves directly involved in the dispute may choose on their own to first go on strike.

“If after sometime you feel that no one is listening and there is need to reinforce by way of solidarity, subject to the rule of law, then you can decide to go on a secondary action. I am not aware that you can go on strike the same day as those who are directly affected,” he said.
The Governor who expressed disappointment at the manner of solidarity by the Edo Chapter of the NMA, asked, “If solidarity was the basis of your participation, why are doctors in the private practice not part of the action?” He therefore called on them to have a rethink to save the lives of the people.

“I am unable to resist the conclusion that the strike like some other ones are designed to enrich those at the private practice by shutting down public hospitals so that those who are sick have no choice but to go to private clinics where some of your members on strike from work go to their own clinics to work.

“And to think that anyone would do this, such that those who cannot afford private health care are now left to die, is a gross abuse of your skills. It borders on blackmail on the entire system and holds all of us to ransom. ‘When a doctor no longer bothers about the life of a patient, that is the beginning of the end.”

He therefore warned that “In Edo State, we will not submit to this blackmail. You are doing essential services because of the nature of your work, you are not expected to go on strike. Let us realise that beyond naira and kobo, there is life.

“I simply don’t understand why the NMA wants to preside over mass death at the eve of Christmas. Even If you don’t have other sentiments, on the mood of the Christmas, you choose to watch people die. That is why yesterday, I told the Honourable Commissioner for Health to put you on notice that if a doctor choose not to work I am sure they also know that they have elected not to be paid.

“Where else in the world do doctors go on warning strike for five consecutive days. If the idea is to warn, do you really need five days of watching people die for you to make your point? I worry for Nigeria because no country can make it this kind of cycle.”

Responding on behalf of the others, Dr. Eghe Abe said the Association would convene to take a dispassionate consideration of the governor’s address and do what is in the interest of the state.

“I expect that if you feel obliged to go on that strike, I think you should inform us that the strike is inevitable. I do understand the logic and essence of solidarity, but in this business, before you resort to solidarity action, people who are themselves directly involved in the dispute may choose on their own to first go on strike.

“If after sometime you feel that no one is listening and there is need to reinforce by way of solidarity, subject to the rule of law, then you can decide to go on a secondary action. I am not aware that you can go on strike the same day as those who are directly affected,” he said.