NMA slams Abia State Govt over 24-month salaries, allowances

President of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Uche Ojinmah, has slammed Abia State Government for owing its members over 24 months salaries and allowances.

Ojinmah stated this in his address at the end of its National Conference with the theme Health care delivery in the face of insecurity which was held in Gombe.

According to him, the action of the government was provoking and painful, stressing that members should serve the government three weeks notice before embarking on indefinite industrial action.

He said, “NEC reviewed the continued withholding the allowances and salaries of Doctors in some state Federation, expresses disappointment with the failure of Abia State Government to pay salaries and other allowances of doctors and health workers for up to 24 months. We consider the action by Abia State Government unfair irritable highly provocative to the tenent of civil service rule and natural justice.

“The NEC directed that NMA Abia state ensure the right and privileges of  all Doctors especially those working with the government are not trampled upon by using all legitimate means at their disposal. Direct that; NMA Abia branch should serve a three weeks notice of industrial action to Abia state government and if there is no satisfaction at the end of three weeks, they should declare total and indefinite strike that would involve Doctors in all the state and Federal total shot down.”

While calling on other defaulting Ekiti, Ondo, Imo states to clear their debts or be faced with similar action.

“We have taken enough from Abia state. Also I want to  call on Ekiti, Ondo, IMO to clear the backlogs in the interest of peace before we decide to do the needful,” Ojinmah added.

The NMA president also lamented the Federal Government’s decision to establish traditional, complementary and alternative medicine in the country, adding that it could meddle with the responsibility of Medical and dental council.