Posted on: Thu 03-09-2020

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (NEC) MEETING OF THE NIGERIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (NMA) HELD BETWEEN THE 28TH AND 29TH OF AUGUST 2020 AT THE CONFERENCE HALL OF ROYAL CHOICE INN, CBD, ABUJA. 

PREAMBLE

The National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) held between 28th and 29th of August, 2020 at the Conference Hall of the Royal Choice Inn, Central Business District, Abuja. The theme of the NEC meeting was "REVIEW OF THE NATIONAL RESPONSE TO COVID 19". The NEC meeting adopted both virtual/physical model in strict compliance with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and Presidential Task Force (PTF) guidelines on meetings. 

As part of the activities of the NEC meeting, Courtesy calls were paid to the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), the Chairman and Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria MDCN) and the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) with very impressive and rewarding outcomes. 

The NMA President, Prof (Dr) Innocent O. A. Ujah FNMA, mni also contributed to the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 regular updates on Thursday, 27th August 2020.

The NEC meeting was attended by members of the National Officers Committee (NOC), Past Presidents, Past Secretary Generals, Chairmen and Secretaries from 35 States and the FCT, (except Enugu State branch which was yet to conduct its election as a result of the crisis that erupted) and Affiliate Heads in the physical meeting and 175 observers by virtual means through Zoom. 

OBSERVATIONS: 

1. The NEC appreciated the efforts being made by the Federal and State Governments ( except Cross River and Kogi States whose responses were far from satisfactory), The Private Sector and partners, in the response to the COVID - 19 pandemic in Nigeria 
2. The NEC specially commended the Medical Doctors and other Healthcare workers in the frontline for their efforts in containing the COVID - 19 pandemic despite inadequate consumables including, Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE). NEC encouraged them to continue to show greater commitment in the national response to Corona virus infection (Covid-19) to protect the lives our people. 
3. The NEC unequivocally condemned the poor and have-hazard state of implementation of the CONMESS circular, including and payment of accrued allowances and salaries of medically qualified persons working in Nigerian Universities 
4. NEC expressed disappointment in the failure to adopt universal applicability of full CONMESS for ALL medical doctors under the respective State Government employment.
5. NEC observed with dismay, the salary arrears being owed members of NMA Abia state by the State Government for over16 months for Doctors working with Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH) and 14 months for Doctors working with the Abia State Hospital Management Board (HMB). The failure of Abia State Government to pay these outstanding salaries will demotivate the workers and reduce productivity and quality of care to the patients in the State. NEC therefore uses this medium to appeal to the Abia State Governor to please urgently pay the salaries of our members and indeed other health workers 
6. IN the same vain, NEC expressed its dismay at the non-payment of salaries to Doctors who are Lecturers at the Imo State University (IMSU) since March 2020 by the Imo State Government. NEC also noted that Resident Doctors in IMO State were still being owed salary arrears. Again, NEC appeals to Imo State Governor to urgently effect the payment of our members' salaries.
7. NEC frowned at the failure of Government and Security agencies on the incidence of kidnapping, banditry and killing of innocent Nigerians, and also those still being held by their captives. We appeal to the Federal and State Government to be more pro-active and more decisive in containing these health, social and economic challenges that have bedeviled our nation in the past 10 years. 
8. NEC expressed its embarrassment and condemned the show of shame demonstrated during the recently botched elections of NMA Enugu state chapter. The NEC condemned such action in strong terms 
9. NEC frowned at the non payment of the COVID-19 inducement allowance to it's members in University Health Services 
10. NEC observed with dismay the rush to the Courts by Dr Kenenna Obiategwu without exhausting the internal mechanisms of conflict resolutions of the association.

RESOLUTIONS 

1. NEC implored the Nigerian Government to scale up its efforts in ensuring effective containment of the COVID 19 pandemic scourge. NEC also advises the scaling up of testing and surveillance across the country especially in Cross River and Kogi States and should also regularly evaluate performance of the response to modify its strategy in effective containment of the pandemic.
2. NEC is appealing for universal implementation of Full CONMESS by all the Governors and Institutions in the Federation 
3. NEC appeals to all Nigerian Doctors and other Healthcare workers at Federal and State levels to sustain their efforts in combating the COVID- 19 pandemic 
4. NEC restates the call to the Nigerian Governments to scale up adequate provisions of consumables, including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to Healthcare facilities as incentive for greater productivity among the frontline workers.  
5. NEC reiterates its earlier calls to the Nigerian Universities Commission to direct all Vice-Chancellors to implement CONMESS to all its medically qualified Staff without further delay.
6.  NEC calls on the Governments of Abia and Imo States to do all it can to defray the salary arrears of all the Doctors and other Healthcare workers in their employment.
7. NEC formally dissolved the leadership (EXCO) of NMA Enugu State Chapter and constituted a three-man Caretaker Committee to oversee the activities of the Association and conduct elections within a three months' time frame. The members of the Committee includes: 

(a) Dr Daiyabu Alhaji Ibrahim (Second Vice President, NMA)—Chairman 

(b) Dr Oseni Saliu (Deputy Secretary General, NMA)—Member 

(c) Dr Chris Piwuna—Member 

1. NEC resolved to refer Dr Kenenna Obiategwu to the National Disciplinary Committee (NDC) in accordance with the provisions of NMA constitution 
2. NEC lifted the suspension and thereby restored all the rights and privileges of its members in NMA Edo State Chapter earlier on suspended from the Association.
3. The NEC restated its call on the Federal Government and the Security Agercies to intensify it's efforts at curtailing the menace of kidnapping, banditry and killings going on in the country 

APPRECIATION 

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) is immensely grateful to the following: 

The Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, His Excellency Dr. Emmanuel Akabe The Chairman, House of Representatives' Committee on Healthcare Services, Hon. (Dr) Yusuf Tanko Sununu for his invaluable contributions to the Healthcare of Nigerians, as well as the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) and the NMA FCT members for the excellent organisation of the NEC meeting.

Signed: 

Prof. (Dr.) Innocent A.O. Ujah,FNMA, mni

President 

Dr. Philips Uche Ekpe 

Secretary – Genral 

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