By Patrick Ugeh and Damilola Oyodele


The federal government is now in a
difficult
situation as medical doctors, against
whom
other health workers' ongoing industrial
action is indirectly targeted, have
threatened
to embark on their own strike should the
government accede to the demands of the
Joint Health Sectors' Unions (JOHESU).
This came as JOHESU and the Nigeria
Labour Congress (NLC) have said the
refusal of the Minister of Health, Prof.
Onyebuchi Chukwu, to abide by the ruling
of
the National Industrial Court(NIC) over
some of the issues in contention was
responsible for the strike.
Among other things, JOHESU is
demanding
having consultants among their non-
medical staff members, the payment of
specialist, call duty/shift and other
professional allowances as enjoyed by
doctors.
But in a statement yesterday, the Nigeria
Medical Association (NMA), said while it
had nothing against the right of "any group
or individual" to determine how best to
achieve its objectives, the doctors would
down tools if government succumbed to
blackmail and intimidation.
The statement signed by Dr. Osahon
Enabulele and Dr Akpufuoma Pemu,
President and Secretary-General
respectively, said: "We affirm that no
group
or union has monopoly over the use of
strike actions in seeking the actualisation
of
its objectives.
"Therefore, the NMA shall not hesitate to
use similar means if government fails to
uphold the rule of law and succumbs to
blackmail and intimidation."
Meanwhile, the Minister of Labour and
Productivity; Chief Emeka Wogu, on behalf
of the federal government yesterday,
summoned a meeting of both parties to
seek a quick resolution to end the strike.
The Secretary General of the Senior Staff
Association of Universities, Teaching
Hospitals, Research Institutes and
Associated Institutions ( SSAUTHRAI), Mr.
Moshood Akinade, speaking for JOHESU,
said since his assumption of office,
Chukwu
had pursued only the interest of the NMA
to
the detriment of other health professionals.
He chronicled the events and incidences
which eventually culminated last week’s
declaration of an indefinite strike by the
union.
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/nma-
threatens-strike-if-fg-bows-to-health-
workers-demands/157376/