COVID-19: Lagos Doctors Begin Indefinite Strike (See Why)

This was made known in a joint statement by its Chairman, Dr Saliu Oseni, and Secretary, Dr Ramon Moronkola.

AFNews reports that the strike was to protest the alleged harassment by security agents against members of the association.

It was gathered that the Nigerian Police in Lagos had on Tuesday mounted roadblocks in different parts of Lagos by 8.00 p.m and arrested some people, including essential workers that were presumed to have flouted the curfew directive.

The NMA said: "The Lagos State Branch of the NMA has resolved that it is presently unsafe for its members to continue to provide healthcare services under the present confused arrangement.

"We resolve that all doctors under the auspices of the Nigerian Medical Association in Lagos to proceed on a sit-at-home starting from 6.00p.m today, May 20, indefinitely.
"Until such time when the state government and the Commissioner of Police, are clear on how they wish to operationalise the lockdown/restriction of movement directive as it relates to essential service and service providers, including healthcare services and doctors."
The association asked the Lagos State Government and the Police to state in clear terms the status of essential services, including healthcare services and its providers.

The group said: "It should be advertised in the social and mainstream media, and a copy submitted to the Secretariat of the Lagos State Branch of NMA.

"Whereas, the directives of President Muhamadu Buhari, through the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, was clear on the exemption of essential workers including doctors and other health workers from the ongoing lockdown/movement restrictions.

"The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr Hakeem Odumosu, has been issuing conflicting directives on social and mainstream media to the effect that essential workers, including doctors and other health workers, are not exempted.

"As a direct result of the conflicting directives of the government and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, the Lagos State branch of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) was inundated yesterday evening with several cases of harassments and intimidation of doctors and other health-workers by officers and men of the Police Command in Lagos State."