The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has urged the federal government to urgently address workers’ concerns toward ending the ongoing nationwide strike. 

Babajide Saheed, NMA chairman in Lagos, made the appeal in an interview with journalists on Monday in Lagos. 

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on June 3 embarked on an indefinite nationwide industrial action over lack of consensus on a new minimum wage and the hike in electricity tariff.  

Mr Saheed said the NMA in Lagos was in solidarity with the NLC/TUC to press for a living wage for Nigerian workers, noting that the hardship in the country had increased morbidity and mortality among citizens.  

“The hardship caused by the ill-motivated and anti-masses policy of the government is affecting everyone, including medical doctors,” said Mr Saheed.

He expressed concerns over the effect of the subsidy removal, which affected the prices of commodities, drugs and medical equipment.  

“The number of doctors leaving the country is even increasing as doctors find it difficult to feed themselves three square meals. 

“Many patients have diet-related diseases which can be corrected with healthy meals, but how many Nigerians can afford healthy food,” he queried. 

Mr Saheed appealed to the federal government to urgently engage the labour leaders and negotiate a befitting living wage that would reflect the current economic situation and improve the quality of life of citizens.  

He added that the plights of patients and other citizens mostly affected by strikes should be considered in ensuring a speedy and amicable resolution. 

Checks at some hospitals in Lagos showed that the strike affected clinical activities, leaving patients unattended to by health workers. 

Checks at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) revealed that the strike disrupted clinical services as only emergency cases were attended to at the Medical and Surgical Emergency Department. 

Members of the health unions, in compliance with the directive from their national bodies, had earlier gone around the health facility, driving the staff out of the offices.

Patients and their relatives were seen complaining about the situation, with some planning on transferring their loved ones to private health facilities. 

Checks at the Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba, showed that the hospital looked deserted as members of the NLC locked and manned the main gate of the hospital. 

(NAN)