Strike
By Yetunde Fatungase
Abeokuta, May 15, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Ogun on Tuesday took on the national body of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) for directing state and local government health workers to join its ongoing strike
The association, in a statement issued in Abeokuta by its Acting Chairman, Peter Abikoye, described JOHESU’s nationwide strike as “ill-guided, anti-doctor, anti-patient and anti-institution.’’
It also said the demands were “unlawful,’’ adding that strike should remain an instrument of bargaining when all other means of getting attention had failed.
“Strikes should be an instrument of bargaining when all other means of getting attention have failed. When a union is pushed into calling for strike, there are qualities that should be the guiding principles.
“A union whose headship is boasting of wreaking havoc with strike has failed to demonstrate empathy and is far beyond the bounds of true patriotism.
“Directing state and local government health workers to join the strike calls for concern, especially in estimating the real motive behind the exercise.
“Strike in the health industry is associated with irreparable loss of lives. On its merit, this is enough to call for caution while the strike lasts,’’ the association said.
It, however, urged government at all levels to be well guided in managing labour crises and guard against being stampeded into taking decisions capable of precipitating more crisis.
The association equally reiterated that Ogun NMA members were not on strike, saying, “all hospitals are open to all patients across Ogun and doctors are available to attend to their clients promptly.’’
“We identify with every family and home which had been negatively impacted on by the ongoing strike.
“ We are not against any cadre of worker agitating for their due pay, but we maintain JOHESU’s strike is adding no value to patients’ care neither is it adding any improvement to the facilities.
“We plead that heads of hospitals and their management team should give all the necessary support, assistance and backup to the doctors at their respective duty posts while mitigating the effect of the on-going strike,” the association said. (NAN)
YAF/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)