The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Bauchi State chapter, has distanced itself from Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) nationwide strike that commenced on Thursday.
Dr Lamara Dottijo the Chairman of the Chapter disclosed this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi on Thursday, adding that that the association was not part of NLC.
“Our members are not participating in the nationwide strike embarked upon by NLC because we are not part of them.
“Besides that, we will not allow hospitals across the state to be shut down, there are pressing health issues with citizens,” he said
Dottijo stressed that his members were available for consultations in all the health facilities across the state.
“The NMA wishes to inform the public, especially our esteemed patients that doctors are not on strike and will be available for consultations in all the health facilities in the state.
“We call on management of all hospitals to support doctors as they continue to render services to patients, by ensuring safety of doctors, access to equipment and clinics.
“We also urge all our members across the state to continue to render selfless services to our patients in spite the ongoing strike by other health workers in the state.
He called on the Federal Government and NLC to come to terms and settle the problems amicably.
“We are calling on government to toe the path of truth and call a spade a spade to bring to an end of this unnecessary strike.“
Checks by NAN in majority of the hospitals in the state capital showed that doctors and other health workers were seen attending to patients while Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi and the specialist hospital recorded full and normal activities.
However, the Chairman, Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) Bauchi state chapter, told NAN that the union was in total support of the strike.
“Our members have joined the NLC strike fully, so all our members are on strike until we hear from the leadership of the labour congres,” he said.
The NLC Chairman in the state, Mr Hashimu Gital, said the strike was successful in the area.
“There is compliance by workers in the state, the workers have all stayed back in their houses to comply with the NLC directive on the strike,” Gital said
The Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Katsina state chapter said the 12 local government areas in the North senatorial district of the state had also joined the strike.
Malam Habibu Bala the Daura Local Government Area of the state chairman of NULGE, told NAN the councils had their offices and departments closed in compliance with the directive of NLC on the issue.
He said workers would remain at home pending further directive from NLC, stressing, “we were strictly monitoring the level of compliance through unscheduled visits to offices, schools and departments.“
Bala appealed to the Federal Government and NLC to ensure timely and amicable resolution to the problem.
“The only panacea to this imbroglio is for the government to honour the earlier demand of the union by working out a feasible minimum wage for the Nigerian workers,“ he said.
He lamented that the urrent N18,000 minimum wage was out dated, especially considering the inflationary trend, stressing that it was far from meeting the economic reality on the ground.
Madam Grace Abo, a market woman in Daura, also called on Federal Government to hasten resolution on the matter with a view to achieving a lasting industrial harmony nationwide.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that all government offices, excluding those on essential services like security agencies, were shutdown with only shops, markets and filling stations operating.
The Katsina north senatorial district comprise of Daura, Maiadua ,Baure, Sandamu, Mani Dutsi, Mashi ,Kusada ,Ingawa, Bindawa,Kankiya and Zango local government areas
