Yobe state’s chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has refused to join the nationwide strike by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) which began on Monday.
NMA Chairman in the state, Dr Abubakar Kawu Mai Mala told newsmen that while they are brothers to the NLC struggle, they (medical doctors) are not part of their affiliate.
He also said that the health sector in the state is so critical and can’t be shut down.
He said;
‘‘All the facilities are opened and they are rendering 100% services. We are not their (NLC) enemies or stoogies. We are just conscious people, we know what we are doing and we know how to do our things.
‘‘We are providing humanitarian services, so if you are a humanitarian you can be on another side. We don’t have to pick a side. For example, we can treat a terrorist you can treat a soldier or anybody. All that it takes is to save human life.
‘‘So we NMA members have not joined the NLC strike. We are not their affiliate, we are fully on the ground. We do respect the NLC’s struggle. We are brothers in struggle as unionists, but we are not their affiliate.”
