The Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association on Wednesday asked its members to embark on an indefinite ‘sit-at-home’ over alleged harassment and intimidation of medical workers by security personnel in the state.
The NMA’s directive was contained in a statement signed by its Chairman, Dr. Saliu Oseni, and Secretary, Dr. Ramon Moronkola.
The directive took effect from 6p.m on Wednesday.
The NMA alleged that police officers in Lagos were harassing medical workers contrary to the directives of the Federal Government on lockdown order that essential workers be allowed free movement.
The body stated that their members were unsafe.
The statement read in part: “As a direct result of the conflicting directives of the government and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, the Lagos State branch of Nigerian Medical Association was inundated yesterday (Tuesday) evening of several cases of harassment and intimidation of doctors and other health workers by officers and men of the Lagos State Police Command to the extent that even ambulances carrying patients with emergency cases were impounded. This has become a recurrent issue.
“The Lagos State branch of the NMA has resolved that it is presently unsafe for members to continue to provide healthcare services under the present confused arrangement.
“You are hereby advised to proceed on a sit-at-home, in your best interest, starting from 6pm today, Wednesday, 20th May, 2020 indefinitely, until otherwise advised,” the statement said.
However, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotosho, said the issue had been resolved.
According to him, the Lagos State Government had intervened and called the top hierarchy of the police and told them the confusion being experienced in the state “and immediately the matter was resolved.
“When the NMA said it was going on strike, the commissioner for health and everybody have been on it and they have spoken to them that the police had reversed themselves and there was no need to go on strike and they agreed.”
Also, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, on Wednesday directed Zonal Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs) to exempt essential service providers from movement restriction order.
In a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mbah, the IG was quoted as saying: “The force is not oblivious of the sensitive, indispensable, patriotic and front line role of the nation’s workforce that falls within the category of Essential Service Providers in government efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.
“To this effect, all essential workers including medical personnel, ambulance service providers, journalists and firefighters remain exempted from the movement restriction orders as well as the national curfew.”
