Following the elimination of fuel subsidies by the Federal Government, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has made a new demand for an upward review of allowances from the state and federal governments.
This was part of the resolution made by the NMA’s National Executive Committee (NEC) at its meeting in Owerri, the capital of Imo State, between August 27 and September 3.
However, the NMA’s National President, Uche Ojinmah, who addressed to journalists on Sunday, praised the Federal Government for the recent increase in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for its members.
He emphasized that the agreement reached on June 1 was finalized on May 25, which preceded the elimination of subsidies and the development of inflation and its attendant impacts.
Among its demands was that health professionals sheathe their swords with the confidence that the NMA, under its current leadership, is committed to reaching a progressive agreement with the Federal Government for a better health sector.
The group also urged the Federal Government to activate emergency preparedness against flooding in order to protect Nigerians’ lives and decrease insecurity to the bare minimum in order to reduce brain drain in the medical profession.
The demands also included the continuation of the plea for the freedom of one of their colleagues, Professor Ekanem Ephraim, who was kidnapped over a month ago by the NMA in Cross River State.
In his address to the executive committee, the NMA president praised Nigerian doctors for their tenacity and endurance in the face of the multiple challenges confronting the medical profession at the moment.
He urged NMA members to keep fighting for peace and unity while praying for better working conditions.
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, who was the event’s special guest of honour, also attended.
The governor thanked the committee for choosing the state as the location for their convention and outlined some of his accomplishments in the state’s health sector as well as his future ambitions.
