The Nasarawa State Chapter of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), says it will embark on 3-day warning strike starting from 12 am of Sunday midnight over welfare issues.
Dr Bulus Umaru, Nasarawa State Chairman of NMA stated this while briefing Newsmen on Friday in Lafia.
According to him, the association had given the state government enough time to address their demands but the government has been insensitive to their plight.
He listed some of their demands to includes; high tax, lack of promotion of its members since 2012, 22 months arrears of corrected salary structure amounting to over N400 million among others.
The Chairman explained that the union have shown understanding with the government towards ensuring industrial harmony, but the government has failed to reciprocate the gesture.
“In February this year the government set up a committee to look into all our demands with the view of addressing them, but as I speak to you the committee is yet to be inaugurated.
“As such, we are left with no option than to speak the language the government understand better which is a strike.
“For the warning strike which would commence Sunday midnight, it is only Doctors in public hospital.
“But if they fail to do the needful during this period of the warning strike, Doctors in the private sector would also join any strike to be declared by the association.
The NMA Chairman also appealed to members of the public that it is not the intention of the association to go on strike, adding that ‘the government should be held responsible for any death if the strike is allowed to go through’.
When contacted, Roseline Kela, Nasarawa State Commissioner of Health, said that the government was doing everything possible to meet the demands of the Doctors given their essential services.
The Commissioner, however, appealed to the association to show little patience with the government given the fact that they are preparing for transition to the next government on May 29.