Yusuf begs medical workers to suspend strike in Kano

Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has appealed to the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to suspend their strike action and avoid risking the lives of over 20 million residents.

Yusuf also reminded the association of the report of the investigative panel on the alleged assault by the Kano Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs on a female doctor on Monday at Murtala Muhammed Specialists Hospital. 

The NMA issued a 48-day ultimatum to the state government to sack the commissioner and vowed to down tools if the government failed to yield to their demand. 

The governor who reacted to the development during a joint live broadcast held with selected radio journalists at the Government House, however, expressed disappointment over the decision of NMA after a misunderstanding between two female adults. 

He stressed that NMA could have allowed the investigative panel under his directive to examine the development and take decisive action, rather than shut down services and abandoned innocent residents seeking medical assistance. 

The governor who eventually tendered apologies on behalf of the government over the incident urged the medical to call off the strike in the interest of pregnant women waiting for delivery at the hospital. 

He insisted any government official found guilty of wrongdoing would not be spared as an appropriate sanction would be issued.