THE Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has expressed solidarity with organised labour in the country over the ongoing nationwide strike by the workers.
The ICIR reported that airports, schools, train and power stations were among public institutions shut down on Monday, June 3, when the strike took off.
The strike grounded socio-economic activities in virtually all states in the country.
In a statement by the NMA’s National Secretary-General, Benjamin Egbo, on Monday, June 3, the doctors said though they were not affiliate body of the NLC or the TUC, they supported the strike.
“Following the recent declaration of a nationwide strike action by the organised labour, the Nigerian Medical Association wishes to state that though the NMA is not an affiliate of the organised labour in Nigeria, we share the pains and hardship Nigerians are currently grappling with.
“The NMA has not declared a strike action, hence doctors will be at their duty posts to attend to clients who desire to make use of health services. The NMA uses this avenue to call on government as well as all stakeholders to consider the plight of the average Nigerian and do everything possible to address the issues that have led to the present impasse,” the statement read.
Labour declared the strike following the federal government’s failure to substantially increase workers’ minimum wage and reverse electricity tariff hike.
Earlier, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) confirmed that the labour unions shut down the national grid to plunge the country into darkness as it commenced the indefinite strike action.
According to TCN, staff members who resisted were assaulted, resulting in several injuries. With no control or supervision, the Benin Area Control Centre was completely shut down.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) also joined the strike, shutting down public universities.
Labour unions in Nigeria, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) declared the strike after negotiations between their delegates and officials of the Nigerian government failed.
Airport and banks have been shut down, as more workers down tools to partake in the strike.
Ijeoma Opara is a journalist with The ICIR. Reach her via [email protected] or @ije_le on Twitter.