President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Osahon Enabulele has confirmed that the association has suspended the planned nationwide industrial action earlier scheduled to begin on Monday.
Enabulele, who was speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Sunday immediately after the emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee of the association, said the leadership of the NMA had issued a directive to all medical doctors under the umbrella to continue with work.
The suspension of the strike action, according to him, is to give opportunity for full implementation of all the issues in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the government.
The directive issued by the association was that “all medical and dental practitioners nationwide are hereby directed to continue to render their normal and highly cherished services to the lovely and caring people of Nigeria”, while the association would meet with the government on 7th February 2013 to reappraise the commitment of the government on the implementation of the MoU.
He said the doctors also gave consideration to the recognition of their roles as custodians of the health of the people.
“We also feel to heed to the several appeals by ordinary Nigerians in spite of our deprivations. This, to us, is a very great sacrifice made by our members and you know a lot of Nigerian doctors are still exiting the shores of Nigeria for other countries where there is better working tools and enabling environment”, he lamented, advising the government not to take the professionals for granted.
