A former President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr Omede Idris has commended the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) for the suspension of her warning strike with a call on the Federal Government to respond positively to the terms of agreement for peece to reign in the ivory towers.
He described as unfortunate the fact that the employer or the government has allowed this to happen over time, creating distrust.
According to him, from the press conference by ASUU President, Prof Chris Piwuna, chronicling the levels of intervention and engagement that led to the strike suspension, it was expected that government will expeditiously address the frequent reasons for strike and disruption of academic calendar through mutual resolutions.
The ex-NMA President in a statement called on the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to resolve areas of disagreement, dispute and unmet agreement and understand with the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and the NMA that have kept the membership of both associations on edge.
He said, “I join many Nigerians and others alike to applaud and commend ASUU for the suspension of her warning strike over the past ten days in Federal Universities.
“It is sad to see, that despite advocacy, apparent mutual understanding between the workforce and the government, that strike action has often being the last tool to drive home demands of most workforce in the country arising from unkept and unmet terms, conditions and agreement by government.
“It is unfortunate that the employer or the government has allowed this to happen over time, creating distrust. As a people the question that begs for answer is why the successive governments appear to enjoy the unhealthy relationship with her workforce, especially those in Universities and the health sector.
“From the press conference by the ASUU President chronicling the levels of intervention and engagement that led to the strike suspension, it is expected that government will expeditiously address these frequent reasons for strike and disruption of academic calendar through mutual resolutions.
“The ASUU leadership under Prof Chris Piwuna, and her members have shown rationality with this decision to suspend the strike. It is therefore expected, anticipated and desirable that the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Education reciprocates this gesture.
“In like manners, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare should resolve areas of disagreement, dispute and unmet agreement and understand with the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors NARD and the Nigerian Medical Association NMA, that have kept the membership of both associations on edge. This will avert any painful consequences.”
