By Amaka Obi Lagos
Barely 24 hours after the Nigerian Medical Association asked its members to embark on an indefinite sit at home strike, the strike has been suspended by the Association.
The Association asked its members to “sit at home” because of the alleged harassment by security agents in the state.
Reference was to made to an incident that occurred where an ambulance carrying a patient was prevented from heading to its destination and the health workers was subsequently detained temporarily and harassed.
In a release on Thursday, the NMA said it has gotten the assurances from the state government and the Nigeria Police Force, snippets of the statement read,
“The Nigerian police force has reached out to the Association to clarify and give assurance of cooperation with all health-workers.
“The association has further received assurances from Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the top hierarchy of the Police that no health workers will be further harassed in the course of their lawful efforts to sustain services in the middle of the pandemic.
“Above all, the passionate appeal from the good people of Lagos State is difficult to resist considering the fact that they will be most hit by the situation.
“Following a holistic consideration of the above development, the Association hereby resolves that the sit-at-home order issued on the 19th of May is hereby reversed and our members are hereby directed to resume work from 6 pm today – 21st of May 2020 (this affects those on call duty).
“That the Lagos state government should ensure clarity at all times, on the exempted status of healthcare and other essential workers for the entire period of the ongoing lockdown/restriction of movement.
“That the Association will continue to monitor the situation and will not hesitate to take any action to protect the safety of our hardworking members.”