Medical doctors give FG three weeks timeline extension to conclude negotiation

Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics, NAMDA says it has resolved to extend the 21-day-warning strike ultimatum earlier issued to federal government for negotiations to three weeks to give room for robust discussions and favourable compromise. 

This was contained in a communique endorsed by the President of NAMDA, Dr Nosa Lancy Orhue and the Acting Secretary General, Prof Aniekan Peter, raised at the end of the association’s Emergency National Executive Council (E-NEC) and issued to journalists in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Friday.
 

The doctors urged the federal government to utilize the three weeks extension window to resolve all outstanding issues, warning that failure to achieve a meaningful resolution at the expiration of the period by August 31, 2026, will result in the declaration of a three-day warning strike.

The communique read in part, “A three-week timeline extension was adopted for further consideration. E-NEC further resolved that the extension period should be utilised by government to resolve all outstanding issues. Failure to achieve meaningful resolution at the expiration of the period ending on the 31st of  August 2026, shall result in the declaration of a three-day warning strike to be announced by NOC.”

The communique mandated all branches across the country to engage their members by organising congress meetings and sensitisation programmes at least twice within the time-frame and send evidence or report of the mobilisation activities to NEC through the Secretariat. It added that the report should indicate the level of preparedness and mobilisation for the strike action.

While decrying the alleged reluctance of government to conclude negotiations with NAMDA, the communique applauded the Directorate of State Security Services, DSS, and some friends of the association for their ongoing interventions in the negotiation as well as members’ patience and cooperation to ensure stability within the University system.

The association further decried the non prioritisation of medical education and training despite the dearth of Medical and Dental doctors and the JAPA syndrome in Nigeria.

It also reaffirmed the need to pursue the full implementation of all approved benefits for medical and dental lecturers even as it urged members to ensure compliance with all directives/decisions reached at the meeting.