The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in Kano has announced that medical practitioners in the state will continue their duties despite the ongoing indefinite strike organized by labour unions.
As banks, hospitals, airports, and government offices across Nigeria shut down in response to the strike over the Federal Government’s refusal to meet a N494,000 minimum wage demand, the NMA’s Kano branch clarified its stance.
Grassroots Parrot reported that the strike was initiated after last-minute interventions by the National Assembly failed to yield results.
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The strike aims to press the government to agree to the wage increase, which the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, claimed would destabilize the economy and jeopardize the welfare of over 200 million Nigerians.
Dr. Abdurrahman Ali, Secretary of the NMA in Kano, stated in an interview on Monday, “We are a professional body, and we are not part of the NLC, so we are not embarking on any strike action.
All doctors and medical practitioners will be on duty at their various hospitals. This may not be 100 percent, but we are not part of it. Of course, you may go there and discover that the person to bring out your file is also away, but our members are on the ground.”
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Reports from our sources indicated that patients at some public hospitals faced difficulties as many units were only providing skeletal services due to the strike.
The NMA’s decision to continue working ensures that essential medical services remain available in Kano, providing some relief amidst the nationwide disruptions caused by the strike.