Nigeria Medical Association Lagos State Chapter has called off its Sit-at-home strike after meeting with the State Government. 

This is coming less than 24 hours after the Association ordered its members to stop operations because of the arrest of 50 health workers in Lagos on Tuesday, May 19.

Eons Intelligence reported that security operatives in the state arrested and embarrassed essential workers on Monday while enforcing the restriction of movement ordered by the Federal Government to contain the spread of Coronavirus. 

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, on Wednesday rescinded the order restricting the movement of essential workers during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The IGP emphasised that “all essential workers including Medical Personnel, Fire-fighters, Ambulance Services, Telecom Engineers, Journalists, etc are exempted from the restriction of movement associated with both the partial lockdown and the national curfew across the Federation.”

The Nigeria Medical Association Lagos branch on Thursday, May 21 released a statement that confirming that the Nigerian police force had reached out to the Association to clarify and give assurance of cooperation with all health-workers.

It also said the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was “exemplary” as his timely intervention from the late hours of May 19 helped prevent worsening of the situation.

According to the Nigeria Medical Association, the Lagos State government and the police has assured that no health worker would be harassed in the course of their lawful duty.  

“The association has further received assurances from Mr Governor and the top hierarchy of the Police that no health workers will be further harassed in the course of their lawful efforts to sustain services in the middle of the pandemic.”

However, the Nigeria Medical Association said it will continue to monitor the situation and will not hesitate to take any action to protect the safety of its hardworking members.

The Nigerian Medical association Lagos had given a stay at home order to her members following the continued harassment by the officers and men of the Nigerian police force. The decision was a necessary doctrine of self preservation as it was unbearable combining the continued threat to life from the officers and men of the police force with the existing daily threat of COVID 19.

This announcement was issued in a Press Release signed by the Nigeria Medical Association, Lagos State Chapter on May 21st, 2020, which Reads;

The leadership of the Association has followed the turn of events while monitoring the situation. The Nigerian police force has reached out to the Association to clarify and give assurance of cooperation with all health-workers. This, they have also done in the media. The executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu was exemplary as his timely intervention from the late hours of May 19th helped prevent worsening of the situation. 

The association has further received assurances from Mr. Governor and the top hierarchy of the Police that no health workers will be further harassed in the course of their lawful efforts to sustain services in the middle of the pandemic (see attachments).

Above all, the passionate appeal from the good people of Lagos state is difficult to resist considering the fact that they will be most hit by the situation.

Following a holistic consideration of the above development, the Association hereby resolves as follows;

1. The the doctors in Lagos State, under the auspices of NMA, has, and takes seriously, a responsibility to partake actively in the fight against Covid-19 and the delivery of quality healthcare to the citizenry for the entire period of the ongoing lockdown/ restriction of movement and beyond.

2. That the sit at home order issued on the 19th of May is hereby reversed and our members are hereby directed to resume work from 6pm today 21st of May 2020 (this affects those on call duty).

3. That the Lagos state government should ensure clarity at all times, on the exempted status of healthcare and other essential workers for the entire period of the ongoing lockdown/restriction of movement. 

4. That the Association will continue to monitor the situation and will not hesitate to take any action to protect the safety of our hardworking members. 

Appreciation

The Association express appreciation to Mr. Governor for his timely intervention and continued assurances in ensuring that the health-workers who were held by the police were released immediately and in preventing subsequent reccurence.

We also appreciate the Honourable minister for health Dr Enahire Osagie and the HCH Lagos state professor Akin Abayomi on their timely interventions.