Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, has made an impassioned plea to the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to suspend its strike action, citing the potential harm it could cause to the 20 million residents of Kano who rely on medical services.
In a joint live broadcast with select radio journalists, Yusuf expressed disappointment over the NMA’s decision to strike, describing the issue as a “dispute between two adults.” He urged the association to allow due process to take its course, highlighting the government’s commitment to accountability.
The strike was triggered by the alleged assault of a female doctor by the state’s Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs at Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital. The NMA issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the state government to dismiss the commissioner, threatening to go on strike if the demand was not met.
Yusuf assured the NMA that the report from the investigative panel probing the incident is on his desk, awaiting immediate action. “I am aware of many instances where planned industrial actions by the NMA were shelved due to the mutual respect and good relationship between the doctors and the Kano State government. The NMA knows that this government values the welfare of doctors,” he stated.
The governor emphasized that any official found culpable in the incident would face appropriate sanctions. He also apologized on behalf of the government, appealing to the striking doctors to consider the impact on vulnerable patients, including pregnant women awaiting delivery, and to call off the strike in the interest of public health.
“As I speak, the report is already on my table, and I will act on it immediately. But if they now feel no one can talk to them, and their only next action is a strike, they should consider the lives of 20 million residents who could be put at risk over a disagreement between two individuals,” Yusuf said.
