Ogun NMA halts 25-day old strike

The Ogun State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has suspended its 25-day strike, acknowledging the severe hardship faced by patients during the period.

Dr. Ogunjimi Luqman, the NMA Chairman, announced that the strike would be put on hold for four weeks to allow for constructive negotiations with the state government.

The decision followed an emergency general meeting held between August 27 and August 29, 2024, in Abeokuta, where members agreed to temporarily halt the industrial action in the interest of public health.

News360 Nigeria reports that the strike had been initiated in response to the state government’s failure to implement the reviewed Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, CONMESS wage, which had been in effect for federal medical workers since June 2023.

Luqman, while stating that doctors are to return to their duties at 8 am on Monday, September 2, 2024, disclosed plans of the association to reconvene on September 30, 2024, to evaluate the situation and decide on further actions based on the government’s response.

He stated: “The Congress acknowledges the severe impact on the people of Ogun State due to the disruption in medical services.

“We have opted to suspend the strike for four weeks to allow for meaningful discussions and negotiations with the state government.

“The emergency general meeting, which first convened on August 27 and reconvened on August 29, assessed the effectiveness of the strike and reviewed members’ compliance.

“The Congress also considered the progress of negotiations with the state government. Despite ongoing efforts by the NMA executives, the issue of wage disparity remains unresolved.”

He emphasised the severity of the situation, saying: “We hope that the state administration will seize this chance to fix the challenges at hand.

“Our members are dedicated to serving the public, but they cannot continue to do so under the current circumstances. We expect the government to meet our demands and avoid further industrial disharmony.”