The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has told Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State to continue living in ‘delusion’, following his threat to doctors in the state that his government would implement the ‘no-work, no-pay’, to deter them from joining the ongoing nationwide warning strike by doctors.
Speaking at a meeting with the Association of Resident Doctors and Medical and Dental Consultants Association, on Thursday in Benin City, Mr. Oshiomhole had described the strike as provocative, illegal, avoidable and unnecessary and came to the inevitable conclusion that the strike was targeted at enriching the pockets of private medicine practitioners.
But in reaction to Osjiomhole’s comment, the National President of NMA, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, told SUNDAY PUNCH that it was sad that the Edo governor, who was once the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress, could resort to intimidating doctors in his state.
Enabulele added that Mr. Oshiomhole was overrating himself and was biased against doctors.
He said, “It is not in Oshiomhole’s place to decide the legality of our strike. For him to say he wants to implement a no-work, no-pay policy is unfortunate. I’m not aware if he came out to say anything about the ASUU strike that was just suspended. That is to show you the bias he has against doctors.
“Coming from a governor, who was a labour leader, it is very unfortunate. He should come out and tell us why he led Nigerians on different actions during his eight-year tenure as the president of NLC. He has proven that he has a hidden agenda. We have chosen to ignore him. Let him revel in his delusion”.
Enabulele added that the welfare and working conditions of doctors in Edo State were among the worst in the country just as he noted that the state had a lot of industrial disputes because of Gov. Oshiomhole’s attitude of resorting to intimidating workers.
The NMA president explained that the Edo State chapter of the association was not independent of the national body, and was under an obligation to join the strike.
“All through his time as NLC president, let him tell us if some state branches of NLC, or workers in some states were exempted from nationwide strikes. NMA is a legally constituted national body, with state branches. The state branches are not independent of the national leadership. When NMA goes on strike, all branches are involved. Our position is that what Oshiomhole is saying is totally unacceptable and he is basically overrating himself,” Enabulele said.
