Sacked doctors: NMA vows to continue strike

As Says negotiations  with FG will continue after 16,000 sacked resident  doctors are recalled

The Nigerian Medical Association has vowed not to suspend the ongoing strike  unless the Federal Government reverses the sacking of  16, 000 resident doctors.

The Lagos State Chairman of the association, Dr. Tope Ojo, who spoke at a press briefing in Lagos on Saturday, vowed that the NMA would only resume negotiations with the Federal Government when it reverses the sacking of the doctors.

Ojo said: “The current strike action continues and the only condition to resume talks with the government is for government to reverse the sacking of 16, 000 strong and dynamic residents nationwide, unconditionally and with immediate effect.

” All attempts by government to divide the NMA by sacking 16,000 residents as a consequence of the ongoing strike is well understood and will be resisted by the NMA.”

The association also warned its members in Lagos not to accept any letter of dismissal from the state government or take up any locum appointment.

” All doctors must heed the call of the national body not to connive with government or their agents by not collecting any sack letter or applying/taking up any locum appointment in any institution or hospital.

” We are calling on the  Dr. Goodluck Jonathan- led administration and Governor  of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, to stop the casualisation of medical doctors.”

The doctors also warned that the sacking of over 16, 000 resident doctors  could further escalate the Ebola scourge as majority of those working on the monitoring and surveillance team  were resident doctors.

The body,  however, urged its members to keep volunteering in the management of Ebola victims,  in spite the sacking of its members.