Strike: Nigerian Medical Association Issues Oshiomhole 21-Day Ultimatum

The Edo State Chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Wednesday issued a 21 day ultimatum to the Edo State Government to address the health sector of the state or it will embark on an indefinite strike.

Dr Emmanuel Ighodaro, the Chairman of the Association, said the attention of the governor is drawn to the issues in February 2013 and since then nothing remarkable had been observed.

According to the Association, the union will embark on strike if there were deductions from their salaries owing to their participation in the national NMA warning strike.

Threatening to embark on strike if the demands are not met, the NMA expects the Edo State government to address include poor infrastructure and lack of appropriate working tools, gross shortage of manpower and the expansion of Universal Health coverage through the National Health Insurance Scheme and community based Health Insurance Scheme.

The union stated, “While it is unrealistic to expect that all the issues will be addressed within 21 days, it will be content with an MOU containing a genuine road map on how these issues will be addressed,”