During an emergency general meeting held from August 27 to August 29, 2024 in Abeokuta, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Ogun State has temporarily halted its 25-day strike, which had disrupted medical services across state-owned healthcare facilities.
The strike suspension was meant to facilitate peaceful negotiations with the state government. Dr. Ogunjimi Luqman, the NMA State Chairman, highlighted the primary reasons behind the strike and the recent decision to suspend it.
According to Dr. Luqman, the strike was initiated when the state government failed to implement the reviewed Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) wage, which has been in effect for federal medical workers since June 2023.
"The congress acknowledged the severe impact of the strike on the people of State due to the disruption in medical services. We have opted to suspend the strike for four weeks to allow meaningful discussions and negotiations with the state government," Dr. Luqman stated.
The emergency general meeting assessed the effectiveness of the strike, reviewed members' compliance, and considered the progress of negotiations with the state government. Despite ongoing efforts by the NMA executives, the issue of wage disparity remains unresolved.
Doctors are expected to resume their duties at 8:00 am on Monday, September 2, 2024. Dr. Luqman appealed to the state government to address the association's demands within the four-week suspension to prevent the resumption of the strike.
Members of the association will reconvene on September 30, 2024, to evaluate the situation and decide on further actions based on the government's response.
Dr. Luqman emphasized the urgency of the situation and expressed hope that the state government will use this opportunity to resolve the issues at hand. He reiterated the association's commitment to serving the public and advocating for the welfare of its members.
