CoronaVirus Updates
Lagos NMA calls off strike, asks doctors back to work
BY NICHOLAS ABE
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Lagos State, has suspended its “sit-at-home” ordered yesterday for doctors in Lagos State, following alleged harassment by the police who are enforcing restriction of movement and curfew imposed on the state.
In a release on Thursday, the NMA said it has got assurances from the state government and top hierarchy of the Nigeria Police Force that doctors will no longer be harassed or intimidated.
The Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu, had directed senior police personnel at both the zonal and state levels to ensure that essential workers, as ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari, were given free passage as they go about their work.
Adamu’s instruction came hours after the Lagos NMA had called out its members to sit-at-home effective 6pm Wednesday.
But the NMA said in its release: “The Nigerian police force has reached out to the Association to clarify and give assurance of cooperation with all health-workers.
“The association has further received assurances from Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the top hierarchy of the Police that no health workers will be further harassed in the course of their lawful efforts to sustain services in the middle of the pandemic.
READ: IGP says medical workers, journalists remain exempted from lockdown, curfew
“Above all, the passionate appeal from the good people of Lagos State is difficult to resist considering the fact that they will be most hit by the situation.
“Following a holistic consideration of the above development, the Association hereby resolves that the sit-at-home order issued on the 19th of May is hereby reversed and our members are hereby directed to resume work from 6 pm today – 21st of May 2020 (this affects those on call duty).
“That the Lagos state government should ensure clarity at all times, on the exempted status of healthcare and other essential workers for the entire period of the ongoing lockdown/restriction of movement.
“That the Association will continue to monitor the situation and will not hesitate to take any action to protect the safety of our hard working members.”