Apprehension over fate of sacked members

Sequel to the suspension of the strike by the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), the House of Representatives Committee on Health yesterday called on the Federal Government to commence the immediate payment of the two months salary arrears owed the medical doctors following the agreement reached by the committee last month during its third stakeholders’ meeting on the NMA strike. 

  The Chairman of the committee, Ndudi Elumelu, who addressed newsmen yesterday, also reminded the Federal Government on the need to ensure that the balance of the salary arrears is reflected in the 2015 budget and paid to members of the NMA accordingly and as clearly defined in the agreement.

 He said: "We are using this medium to appeal to NMA to work closely with the Federal Ministry of Health in the preparation of 2015 budget proposals of the ministry so that the 2015 budget proposals of the ministry would include computation of outstanding agreed salary arrears and computations of new salary structure of medical doctors effective January 2015.

  "The collaboration and working relationship between NMA and Federal Ministry of Health are essential in order to promote industrial harmony in the health sector and avert a strike of this nature in the future.     "

  Elumelu noted the efforts of the Senate President, David Mark and the Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who facilitated the crucial meetings, which led to the quick suspension of the strike in the interest of the masses and health of Nigerians.

  The lawmaker stated that if the parties had obeyed previous agreements reached between NMA and representatives of Federal Government, the strike would have been averted.

  "The lesson learnt here is that we must at all times obey contents of agreements freely entered into in order to avert crisis," he said. 

  Meanwhile, doctors at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital and Dala Orthopedic Hospital in Kano are yet to resume after the suspension of the strike.