Kehinde Fajobi
Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, appealed to the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on Thursday to end its strike, cautioning that it could put over 20 million residents of Kano at risk due to disruptions in medical services.
The governor assured the association that the report from an investigative panel examining allegations of assault against a female doctor by the state’s Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs at Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital is ready for immediate action.
The NMA had earlier issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the state, demanding the commissioner’s dismissal, with a threat to strike if this demand went unmet.
During a joint live broadcast with local journalists, Yusuf expressed disappointment in the NMA’s decision, describing the dispute as a “matter between two adults.”
He urged the association to let due process resolve the issue.
“I am aware of many instances where planned industrial actions by the NMA were shelved due to the mutual respect and good relationship between the doctors and the Kano State government. The NMA knows that this government values the welfare of doctors,” Yusuf stated.
He explained that he had quickly set up a committee to investigate the matter and directed it to deliver a report within 48 hours.
“As I speak, the report is already on my table, and I will act on it immediately,” he said.
Yusuf, however, cautioned the doctors about the implications of the strike, stating, “If they now feel no one can talk to them, and their only next action is a strike, they should consider the lives of 20 million residents who could be put at risk over a disagreement between two individuals.”
Apologising on behalf of the government, the governor appealed to the NMA to consider vulnerable patients, including pregnant women in need of urgent care, and to end the strike in the public interest.
Yusuf also assured that any official found responsible for the incident would face the necessary sanctions, underscoring his administration’s commitment to accountability.