The Nigerian Medical Association has flayed the Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, for threatening doctors in the state with ‘no-work, no-pay policy,’ to deter them from joining the ongoing nationwide strike by doctors.
Speaking at a meeting with the Association of Resident Doctors and Medical and Dental Consultants Association, on Thursday, Oshiomhole had described the strike as provocative, illegal, avoidable and unnecessary.
In a reaction to that, the President of the NMA, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, told newsmen that it was sad that Oshiomhole, who was the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress, could resort to intimidating doctors in his state.
Enabulele added that the governor was overrating himself and was biased against doctors.
He said, “It is not in Oshiomhole’s place to decide the legality of our strike. For him to say he wants to implement a no-work, no-pay policy is unfortunate. I’m not aware if he came out to say anything about the ASUU strike that was just suspended. That is to show you the bias he has against doctors.
“Coming from a governor, who was a labour leader, it is very unfortunate. He should come out and tell us why he led Nigerians on different actions during his eight-year tenure as the president of NLC. He has proven that he has a hidden agenda. We have chosen to ignore him. Let him revel in his delusion.”
Enabulele said the welfare and working conditions of doctors in Edo State were among the worst in the country.
He added that Edo had a lot of industrial disputes because of Oshiomhole’s penchant for intimidating workers.
The NMA president said the Edo State chapter of the association was not independent of the national body, and was under an obligation to join the strike.
“All through his time as NLC president, let him tell us if some state branches of NLC, or workers in some states were exempted from nationwide strikes. NMA is a legally constituted national body, with state branches. The state branches are not independent of the national leadership. When NMA goes on strike, all branches are involved. Our position is that what Oshiomhole is saying is totally unacceptable and he is basically overrating himself,” Enabulele said.
Doctors in public health institutions began a five-day nationwide strike Wednesday to compel the Federal Government to address the association’s demands immediately.
The National Association of Resident Doctors, Nigerian Medical Guild, and Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria also joined the strike.
source: nigerianeye
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