NATIONWIDE STRIKE: YOBE NMA DEFIES NLC/TUC DIRECTIVES, ATTENDS TO PATIENTS

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The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) chapter in Yobe State has disregarded the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) orders to go on an indefinite strike.

The NMA chairman in Yobe State, Abubakar Kaumi-Mala, told reporters in Damaturu on Monday that the organization is not associated with the NLC or TUC and is therefore unable to participate in a national strike.

According to Kaumi-Mala, they have requested that all of their members make sure they show up for work and take care of patients who might be visiting clinics and hospitals for medication.

“We have not joined the NLC/TUC strike action and we will not join because we are not their affiliate; we are fully on the ground seeing patients.

“All clinics, surgery, and theatres are opened and wards round are ongoing for all patients. We respect the NLC/TUC in their struggle but we are not joining them. The health sector is so critical and we cannot endeavour to shut it down because of its humanitarian nature” he said.

He clarified that the health system is open and available to the general public and that physicians and other health professionals are very much on the ground.

Visits to a few clinics and hospitals in the state capital of Damaturu reveal that hospital employees, including some nurses, are on the ground.