Nigeria Medical Association is set to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike over alleged non-implementation of an agreement it reached with the Federal Government.The association on Saturday held a marathon meeting to finalise its plans.The President, NMA, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, in a short text message to one of our correspondent on Saturday morning said, “We are meeting to take decisions today. Thereafter, we shall brief the press.”Upon SUNDAY PUNCH’senquiry around 6pm, Enabulele sent another message indicting that the meeting was still on. At 7:45pm and 9:07pm, respectively, he said the same thing.The NMA had on Friday warned that a collapse of the health sector was imminent, if the Federal Government did not meet its final ultimatum on the implementation the agreement reached by the two parties.The final ultimatum expires today.The bone of contention include the upgrade of hospital facilities and infrastructure; improvement in doctor’s work conditions; and the erroneous system in the adopted salary payment structure known asConsolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).In a statement by Enabulele on Friday, which was obtained by an online news agency, Sahara Reporters, the doctors accused theMinister of Health, Mr. Chukwu Onyebuchi, of handling the issue with levity.The association said after several postponements of deadlines for meeting all the demands since July,and on account of the intervention of some stakeholders, the doctors had “finally” chosen on December 14, 2013, as the final deadline “beyond which no other grace would be permissible.”“Sadly, since the report of the presidential committee was submitted to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, only the re-constitution and inauguration of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria has been achieved, he said
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