Greetings from the National President, NOC and
delegates to the just concluded EDM. The EDM of the
Nigerian Medical Association took place on Saturday 26th
July, 2014 at Pauliham hotel, Gwarimpa, Abuja. On the
agenda was the update on NMA's open letter to the
government/minimum demands.
The meeting was well attended by all states and FCT delegates, with appology
from Bornu state due to the inability of the
delegates to get a flight from Maiduguri, 2 past presidents, viz; Dr. Stephen
KITCHENER, Dr. Idris OMEDE Immediate past Sec.
Gen. Dr. Pemu.
The meeting lasted over 12 hours with the house going on a 4hr recess for
delegates to put heads together for decisions to be
made on the way forward. Prior the recess, all state chairmen spoke for and
against whether the strike should be suspended or
not after the president read his opening/welcome address.
The welcome address was tagged; "RESTORATION OF SUSTAINABLE SANITY IN
PATIENT CARE IN NIGERIAN HOSPITALS" www.medicalworldnigeria.com
This culminated in the open letter to the Secretary to the Government of the
federation (SGF) on 11th June, 2014.
Twenty four (24) point demands were itemised to be looked into by the
Government. This paper is meant to report on the
progress so far and chart the way forward:
1. Deputy Chairman Medical Advisory Committee (DCMAC). The situation
update now is that the position has been restored and
circular issued to the effect. The conclusion of this circular is unambiguously
clear: "THE ESTABLISHED POSITION WILL
CONTINUE TO BE FILLED PENDING THE OUTCOME OF THE PRESIDENTIAL
COMMITTEE DELIBERATIONS" HMH/ABJ/155/v
¡¡¡/3484.
2. On appointment of Directors, it was agreed that the Teaching Hospital Act
should not be violated; so status quo remains.
3. Skipping: The current status now is that 'Government has no objection to
Doctors skipping on CONMESS 3, the modalities of
its implementation will be submitted to NOC/negotiating team of NMA within 6
weeks, 4 weeks gone already, so in 2 weeks time
the modalities of implementation will be made available to NOC/negotiating
team.
4. Consultant: The circular on this has made it categorically clear that; "THE
DESIGNATION OF CONSULTANT SHOULD ONLY BE
USED FOR PERSONNEL WITH QUALIFICATIONS REGISTERABLE WITH MEDICAL
AND DENTAL COUNCIL OF NIGERIA" MH/
PM"138/Vol.111/85, 18th July, 2014.
5. Relativity: The update on this is that the adjustment in salary was not
factored into 2014 budget. The Government position isthat this will be factored
into the 2015 budget and will take effect from January 2014. A sum for 2
months arrears is to be
released within 7 working days available as "index of commitment". There is no
pool of funds upon which to draw supplementary
budget; so say the budget office.
The MOU is as follows: "IMPLEMENTATION AND PAYMENT OF RELATIVITY
ARREARS ARISING FROM THE JANUARY 3, 2014 CIRCULARS, IT WAS
CONCLUDED THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RELATIVITY ARREARS
TOOK EFFECT FROM JANUARY 2014. FURTHERMORE, THE 2 MONTHS
ARREARS (JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, 2014) OFFERED BY THE GOVERNMENT
SHOULD BE PAID WITHIN SEVEN (7) WORKING DAYS WITH EFFECTIVE FROM
WEDNESDAY, JULY 30 , 2014.
IT WAS ALSO CONCLUDED THAT THE BALANCE OF TEN (10) MONTHS
ARREARS SHOULD BE FACTORED INTO THE 2015 APPROPRIATION ACT AND
PAID IN LUMP SUM".
6. The National Health Bill has been passed, currently undergoing harmonisation
by the two legislative houses for onward
passage to the presidency for accent.
7. Surgeon General of the Federation has been described as "desirable" and
should be pursued to the legislature. The NMA has
prepared a position paper on the issue. It is also in the pipeline that NMA
should establish a 'legislative' desk in the National Assembly.
8."THE STEP FOR HOUSE OFFICERS SHALL BE ADDRESSED TO THE
EQUIVALENT OF CONHESS 9, STEP 4 AND MEDICAL OFFICER/REGISTRAR TO
CONMESS 2 STEP 3 AS WAS DONE FOR OTHER HEALTH WORKERS AT THEIR
ENTRY POINT" the circular to this effect has been received from the office of
the Head of Service.
www.medicalworldnigeria.com
9. Clinical allowance,
10. Specialist allowance,
11. Hazard allowance,
The procedure for negotiation for the above 3 to be followed up with the Federal
Ministry of Health. NMA has submitted the
names of her negotiating team.
12. The circular on rural posting, teaching, and other allowances has been
released SWC/S/04/S176/T/73, of July, 2014.
13. Withdrawal of CBN circular on the importation of in vitro dianostics- Federal
Ministry of Health was given a deadline (1
month) to write the CBN on the issue and copy NMA. NMA team also honoured
an invitation from CBN, where they promised to
take action on our demand. Recently, we also visited NAFDAC where the DG
told us about his plan to visit the CBN.
The letter to the CBN has been written by the Federal Ministry of Health and
NMA has been copied -ref MH/PA/138/Vol 111/81.
14. Circular on retirement age: Report already completed by the 12 man
committee and to be made available within 2 weeks
(follow up is necessary). The committee is being hosted by Delta State
Government.
15. On Residency Training Programme: template has been released; "THE
PURPOSE OF THIS LETTER IS TO FORWARD THE
TEMPLATE FOR USE AT YOUR END AS GUIDE IN RESIDENCY TRAINING. THIS
DIRECTIVE IS IN TANDEM WITH POLICY AS
STIPULATED IN THE NATIONAL STRATEGIC HEALTH DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND
IN CONSONANCE WITH NATIONAL VISION". Ref.
No. C2262/38 18th July, 2014.
16. All outstanding claims pertaining to doctors in FMC Owerri have been paid.
17. Doctors have assured Government of our readiness to cope with the
challenges inherent in the progress of reintegration of
members back into IPPIS platform. The Government on her part has indicated
the willingness to commence immediately.
18. That circular that guarantees the right of house officers to be members of
lawful associations has been released.. "HOUSE
OFFICERS SHOULD NOT BE RESTRICTED FROM JOINING ANY ASSOCIATION
THAT ARE RECOGNISED BY LAW". Ref. No.
C2262T/264, 18th July, 2014.
19. Physical assault on Doctors by other health workers - All criminal actions
should be reported specifically and handled
according to the provisions of the Public Service Rules (PSR).
20. Incomplete payment of salaries of doctors: Action to be taken by the
permanent Secretary, FMOH and the Director of Human
Resources and they are to report back to the government/NMA team at the
next meeting.
21. Universal applicability; the state/Local Governments can be reached through
persuasion, National Council on Establishment
matters, National Economic Council. Any of these channels shall be explored.
The NMA National will always rally support for
states in the implementation of the circulars.
www.medicalworldnigeria.com
22. On Health Trust Fund, the NMA earlier proposal has been re activated.
"HEALTH AND HOSPITALS DEVELOPMENT INTERVENTION FUND" other
interested partners are to join the programme.
23. The position of CMD remains sacrosanct and has not been compromised:
"THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR IT'S AGENCIES HAVE NO PLAN TO REPEAL
THE TEACHING HOSPITALS ACT, BUT NMA MUST
WATCH OUT FOR A PRIVATE BILL".
24. On the continued violation of the terms of the 2009 collective bargaining
agreement, it was decided that: "A LETTER
DIRECTING THEIR COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF CONMESS AND
CONHESS CIRCULAR BE SENT TO ALL CMD's AND
MEDICAL DIRECTORS". This is to be followed up by the Government/NMA team
on Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
In conclusion, NMA circular on minimum end point says; "THE ISSUANCE OF
CIRCULARS ON THESE END POINTS FOR
RESTORATION OF SUSTAINABLE SANITY IN PATIENT CARE IN NIGERIAN
HOSPITALS WILL END THE STRIKE".
It is hereby noted that all the 24 point demands have received positive
responses, and circulars have been issued as appropriate.
In summary, these demands are classified into 3 categories for action, viz;
immediate, middle, and long term.
Items 1,2, 4, 5, 6, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 23 are under immediate action
with positive response from government.
Items 3, 8, 13, 14 and 24 are classified under middle term receiving actions from
government to be followed up by the NOC and
the negotiating team.www.medicalworldnigeria.com
Items 7, 9, 10, 11, 21, and 22 are classified under long term, also receiving
attention with close follow up by the NOC.
http://www.medicalworldnigeria.com/2014/07/situation-report-on-the-national-medical-association-emergency-delegates-meeting/#

All d NMA now calls for to end d strike is just a secular release from the government to attest to what has been earlier agreed on, I hope d FG won't make any denial of these facts else d strike escalates...