The Edo State Chairman of the Association, Professor Omoti, who disclosed this in Benin, explained that although the association had opted to halt its industrial action in the interest of the nation’s health sector, which was almost moribund due to the strike which stated on July 1, the government was yet to play its part.
He explained that medical services were still skeletal in all federal hospitals due to the effect of the sack letters.
He noted that at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, resident doctors were not allowed to attend to patients due to the move by the government.
It would be recalled that the Federal Government had on August 14 sacked no fewer than 16,000 resident doctors in the country.
According to a statement released by the Deputy Director of Press, Federal Ministry of Health, Alhaji Isiaka Yusuf, the doctors were sacked after exploring all avenues to end the strike, which it said had worsened the health crisis in Nigeria.
However, Professor Omoti called for a withdrawal of the letters and allow the 16,000 resident doctors to go back to work.
“There is no difference because the only people whom the federal government has allowed to come back to work are the consultants, who constitute not more than 10 to 20 per cent of the total number of doctors.
“The government is supposed to withdraw the sack letters and allow the doctors in all the federal hospitals nationwide to resume.
On what measure would be taken, if the federal government insists on not recalling the sacked doctors, state NMA boss said that the association woud come up with a resolution after a meeting in Awka, the Anambra State capital on Thursday.
“We will be having a meeting tomorrow in Awka. Following that meeting, we will know what to do,” he said.
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