Benue doctors begin indefinite strike

Doctors in Benue State on Thursday began an indefinite strike following the expiration of the seven days warning industrial action earlier embarked upon by them. The doctors under the umbrella of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in the state said that the decision was preceded by the inability of the Benue state government and management of […]

Doctors in Benue State on Thursday began an indefinite strike following the expiration of the seven days warning industrial action earlier embarked upon by them.

The doctors under the umbrella of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in the state said that the decision was preceded by the inability of the Benue state government and management of Federal Medical Centre (FMC) to meet the demands of doctors.

In a communiqué signed by its Chairman, Dr. Obekpa Obekpa and Secretary, Dr. Nwaeze Chukwuemeka, the union passed a vote of confidence on their current executive and resolved to continue the strike indefinitely.

It also expressed gross disaffection on the subversive roles played by some of its members in the course of the warning strike and therefore referred them to their disciplinary committee for necessary action.

The affected five members included; the Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Dr. Inunduh Peteru, State Commissioner of Health and Human Services, Dr. Cecilia Ojabo, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Benue State Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Prof. Terlumun Swende, the Deputy Head of Clinical Services of FMC, Dr. Ochiefa Mathew, and the Chairman, of Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) of FMC in Makurdi, Dr. Nombur Isaac.

Meanwhile, the association commended the patience of its members who adhered to the warning strike in spite of what they described as harassment, intimidation and insincerity on the part of management of the FMC and Benue State government.

The doctors had earlier embarked on a seven-day warning strike which began on 12:00 midnight of Tuesday, October 3.