Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) yesterday gave Federal Government 14-days ultimatum to meet up the association's demands or face an indefinite nationwide strike.

NMA, in a letter addressed to the Secretart to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pious Anyim, vowed to embark on a nationwide  strike should the Federal 

Government fail to meet up the 24-point demand of the association within 14days.

The letter was also copied to the Senate President, Speaker House of Representative, Ministers of Health Labour and Productivity, Finance Head of Service, 

National Salaries, Wages and Income Commission and security chiefs said NMA is advocatind for better health service delivery to Nigerians and not to enrich the 

Doctors.

NMA Chairman, Bauchi State chapter, Dr.Yusuf Abdu Misau, said "the Federak Government has 14 days to avert the purported strike by meeting up the demands of the NMA. We don't want to see people dying as a result of NMA strike."

He drew the attention of the Federal Government to the decay in the nation's health sector, saying Nigeria has the best set of Doctors but the FG lacks the political will to address the decay in the sector, which was what prompted NMA to issue the ultimatum 

NMA challenged the federal Government to expedite the passage of the National Health Bill (NHB), and extend Universal Health Coverage to cover 100 per cent as currently prescribed by National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and demanded for the immediate release of circular on rural posting, teaching and other allowances and it should include house officers.

They called for the release of circular on retirement age for Medical Doctors as agreed with FG and demanded that hazard allowance must be at least N100,000 per month for Medical Doctors, clinical duty allowance for Honorary consultants should be increase by 90 per cent of CONMESS as well as to review the specialist allowance as contained in the 2009 collective bargaining agreed while Doctors on CONMESS 3 and above should benefit from the specialist allowance.

"The Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Health should formalise and implement the report of the interagency committee on residency training as well as release the uniform template on appointment of Resident Doctors in line with earlier agreement.