Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu
The Federal Regime on Friday challenged striking members of the Nigerian Medical Association to a debate afore the public over the alleged breach of accedence which necessitated the perpetual doctors’ nationwide strike.
The regime, which claimed that it had intensified solemn surveillance in the nation’s borders and points of ingression to check influx of immigrants having the dreaded Ebola virus, verbalized it had consummated its own part of the accedence.
It, however, expressed surprise that the NMA leadership could still be flexing muscles after signing a Memorandum of Understanding.
The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, verbalized this in Abuja during the signing of $15m accedence with the Norwegian regime, which was offered to Nigeria for the upscaling of maternal and child health.
He verbally expressed, “The update on the strike is that NMA signed the second MoU with us on July 3, 2014. For two times now, the association has verbally expressed it would call off the strike. When someone gives you a cheque, you are expected to go and cash it.”
Asked if the Federal Regime had genuinely consummated its part of the accedence, the minister verbally expressed, “Absolutely, that is why I verbalized we should have a high-powered debate afore the Nigerian public. Let each side state what the issues are, let us take it piecemeal. I am assuring Nigerians that the Federal Regime has done what it ought to do.
“That is why they signed the MoU. Why will you sign a MoU when you are not gratified with the negotiation? These two negotiations took place for over 24 hours, a whole day without slumber.”
Chukwu additionally verbalized on efforts being put in place by the regime towards containing the dreaded Ebola virus.
