The President of the Nigeria Medical Affiliation, Dr. Uche Ojinmah, has mentioned that the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and his counterpart, Minister of Finances and Financial Planning, Atiku Bagudu, must be held accountable when something goes fallacious within the healthcare system.
He said that the ministries chargeable for finance had but to reply to the memo during which the Ministry of Well being requested implementation since September 2023.
Ojimah made this assertion in opposition to the backdrop of the proposed impending strike and the ultimatum given to the Federal Authorities by the Nigerian Medical Affiliation.
The NMA additional underlined the truth that the associations wouldn’t revoke their resolution to take strike motion if their calls for weren’t met.
Ojinmah, on the closing ceremony of the NMA Nationwide Government Council assembly in December, gave a deadline of January 31, 2024 to fulfill his calls for or threat industrial motion within the well being sector.
The docs had requested the federal government to implement the upward revision of the consolidated medical wage construction. He additionally urged the federal government to introduce the newly permitted accrual deduction from June 2022 with cost in arrears.
The PUNCH reported on July 28 that the federal government had permitted the cost of N25,000 in particular allowances for docs and dentists in hospitals, medical facilities and clinics within the Federal Public Service.
However Ojinmah mentioned whereas the affiliation was grateful that the federal government had taken a step on one in every of its agreements, it was ready for the total implementation of the agreements they’d signed.
The chairman of the affiliation additionally said that the affiliation couldn’t assure industrial concord after the ultimatum if the federal government didn’t meet its calls for.
Talking on the progress made thus far in negotiations with the Federal Authorities, the NMA Chairman famous that healthcare stakeholders had carried out their finest to make sure that medical practices didn’t collapse.
He mentioned he may say the identical of stakeholders on the Ministry of Finance.
Ojimah narrated the ordeal of docs in an unique interview with The PUNCH, stating that the Ministry of Well being had written a memo to the Ministry of Finance however the Edun-led ministry had not responded to it thus far.
The NMA president mentioned, “However I can say that we had a gathering yesterday. The Ministry of Well being, the ministry of our mother or father firm, has proven us proof that since September they’ve been writing to the Ministry of Finance, which is meant to get a refund to successfully begin working, and there was no response from right now obtained from the Ministry of Finance.
“And as I speak to you, I do know that the Ministry of Well being additionally issued a reminder yesterday to make sure that nothing goes fallacious by the top of the month, and forwarded it to the Ministry of Finance.
“So anybody who is aware of the Ministry of Finance and their finances workplace ought to inform them that they’re now chargeable for every part that goes fallacious. In order that's the place we’re.”
Ojimah additional clarified that the Ministry of Well being held a gathering on Tuesday and reached resolutions on easy methods to enhance healthcare techniques, however their plans have been hampered by lack of funds for implementation.
When contacted for the reason why the Ministry of Finance had not perfected the implementation course of, the Director of Press and Public Relations, Stephen Kilebi, declined remark because the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, was at present overseas.
He mentioned: “As you realize, the minister shouldn’t be within the nation and meaning I can’t get any causes for this. Statements could also be made when he returns.”
