Kogi doctors suspend strike

The Kogi chapter of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on Friday suspended its 18-day old strike for three months to give room for government to address their remaining demands. A statement issued after its Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) in Lokoja and signed by its Chairman, Dr. Godwin Tijani, said the decision to suspend the strike was […]

The Kogi chapter of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on Friday suspended its 18-day old strike for three months to give room for government to address their remaining demands.

A statement issued after its Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) in Lokoja and signed by its Chairman, Dr. Godwin Tijani, said the decision to suspend the strike was taken since the state government has met about 60 to 70 percent of their demands and promised to address other outstanding issues before September.

"As an understanding association, NMA deemed it fit to suspend the strike to give government the benefit of doubt.

"We appreciate government for reinstating and payment of the salaries of our colleagues employed in 2015. We believe that the promise of reinstating some of our colleagues still on the unclear list will also be fulfilled.

"NMA has also been assured by government that the Relativity and corrected CONMESS will be implemented by September and we are looking forward to that.

"The association is also impressed with the government’s decision to implement promotion and stepping for doctors to prevent the stagnation doctors have suffered for years.

"Congress therefore, suspends the strike action for three months and to reconvene in September to reappraise the suspended strike and resume if our demands are not met," Tijani said.

The association also appealed to the government for the regularization of doctors’ salary and implementation of the revised CONMESS, promotions and annual stepping to avoid future strike in the health sector.