By Tony Edike
THE Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, Enugu State chapter, has embarked on a three-day warning strike to protest the government’s non-implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure for doctors.

The NMA said it was forced to resort to strike, owing to what it called “government’s insensitivity’’ to the plight of its members.

Speaking at the end of an emergency congress in Enugu, the State NMA Chairman, Dr. Kene Madu, said it would begin an indefinite strike if the government failed to implement the CONMESS at the end of the warning strike.

He said: “We are appealing to Enugu State government to see the payment of the salary as the only way to discontinue the disharmony.”

He also stated that the association felt more aggrieved with the Governor Sullivan Chime-led administration for dragging the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners, NAGGMDP  before the National Industrial Court in Abuja when it issued a 21-day strike ultimatum to the state government.

NAGGMDP President, Dr. John Chukwuani, recalled that the 21-day ultimatum was due to the failure of government to implement the CONMESS.

“We were, however, surprised that before the expiration of the ultimatum, the government got a court injunction from the National Industrial Court, Abuja, restraining us from going on strike,” said the NAGGMDP president.

“Prior to this time, there was never any form of negotiation despite letters written the state government to implement the new salary scheme. Rather than call for a dialogue or truce, they chose to go to court,” Chukwuani added.

The case could not be heard at the National Industrial Court , Enugu , on Tuesday because the judges did not turn up. According to the court registrar, the case would now be mentioned on January 31, 2011 at the National Industrial Court in Lagos .

It would be recalled that  the Association of Resident Doctors, Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, has been on strike since December 1, 2010 on the same issue of non-implementation of CONMESS.

Medical services at the Parklane Teaching Hospital had been suspended since then forcing patients to seek medical attention in private hospitals within the Coal City.