Strike looms at national hospital Abuja as NMA issues ultimatum
The management of the National Hospital in Abuja has been given a 14-day warning strike notice by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) branch, in response to the termination of three medical consultants.
At the association’s Ordinary General Meeting (OGM), which took place on June 11 at the Federal Medical Centre in Abuja, a decision was made to go on strike.
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The NMA FCT sent a letter to the Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital in Abuja, announcing the strike, calling for the doctors’ immediate reinstatement and characterising the doctors’ dismissal as “selective victimisation” and “scape goating.” The letter also accused the hospital management of failing to provide a valid reason for the dismissal of the 27 other doctors who were allegedly casualized as locum consultants for three years.
The letter, jointly signed by the chairman and assistant secretary of the NMA FCT, Dr. Ayogu Emeka and Dr. Usman Hafiz, was titled “Notice of 14 days strike ultimatum for vehemently refusing to reinstate our disengaged members.” It explained that attempts to resolve the issue through high-level advocacy, including visits led by the National President of the NMA, Dr. Bala M. Audu, and senior officials of the FCT chapter, had not been successful.
The disengagement coincides with a deterioration of the brain drain in the healthcare industry, making already overburdened resources even more vulnerable to mental health issues and financial instability among surviving staff, according to the NMA FCT.
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According to the statement, doctors stationed at the National Hospital, Abuja, will commence a strike from June 15 to 29, pending a total and indefinite strike from June 30, with the entire NMA FCT membership set to join after seven days if the sacked doctors are not reinstated within the timeframe.
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