Buhari held meeting with the NMA as the doctors’ strike enters 40th day

On Friday, President Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) held a meeting with members of the Nigeria Medical Association at the State House in Abuja.

The meeting comes 40 days after the National Association of Resident Doctors called a strike that would last indefinitely.

Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige, and his Minister of State for Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora, were also present at the meeting.

During the meeting, Buhari urged health workers to return to work and urged others considering strikes to settle their differences through negotiation, no matter how long it takes.

According to Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, “the lives of citizens that could be lost or damaged when doctors withdraw services are precious enough to be worth opting for peaceful resolution of differences.”

The outstanding issue of an Establishment circular issued by the Head of Service, removing House officers and NYSC doctors from the scheme of service, had an addendum circular issued by the National Salaries and Wages Commission clarifying that they will continue to earn the wages attached to them on their current wage structure, according to Buhari.

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“I request that the agreement reached in the August 20th and 21st meetings, which is captured in the MOU that I have seen, be strictly implemented,” he added.
The President announced that budgetary allocations for the health sector had been increased, and that a Health Sector Reform Committee, chaired by the Vice President, had been tasked with identifying and addressing weaknesses in the health system, as well as aligning with global best practices that boost public confidence.

“We also support initiatives to expand health-insurance coverage and increase health-financing resources.“

For our large population, we have many more challenges ahead of us and much more work to do.

In this regard, it is important to emphasize that, as senior medical personnel and representatives of one of the world’s most respected professional organizations, your responsibility for Nigerians’ health and well-being is clear.

“It goes beyond your members’ welfare to include a sense of responsibility for the entire country, its sociopolitical health, and national stability,” he added.

The president praised the Nigeria Medical Association for its positive role as Nigeria’s apex professional medical association, particularly in light of the ongoing industrial action.

“As a mature organization led by responsible members with extensive experience, the NMA is well-suited for this role.

“I am also proud to learn of various achievements in our hospitals, such as the separation of conjoined twins and the valiant efforts of our health personnel in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, much of which has earned us national and international recognition, and the recent appointment of one of your colleagues as Assistant Director-General of the World Health Organization. We congratulate Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu on his promotion once more,” he said.

Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Minister of Health, said the NMA had played an important role in the development of the health sector, particularly in tackling pandemics, policy formulation, and population health.

Prof. Innocent A. Ujah, President of the NMA, thanked the President for appointing members to key government positions, assent to the Medical Residency Act, and immunization coverage.

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Ujah stated that the association was concerned about the doctors’ strike and had been doing everything possible to alleviate the suffering of patients across the country while pleading for a quick resolution.

He assured the president that the association’s members would continue to support efforts to improve the country’s health.