LEDAP sues NMA over strike A rights group, the Legal Defence and Assistance Project, has sued Nigerian Medical Association in Abuja, urging the court to declare that doctors as professionals providing essential services had no rights to go on strike. The group filed the suit before the National Industrial Court, Abuja, seeking the interpretation of section 6(6) of the Trade Union (Amendment) Act, 2005, which it argued prohibit doctors from going on strike. In its origination summons, it quoted the provisions of section 6(6) of the Trade Union (Amendment) Act as saying, ‘No person, trade union or employer shall take part in a strike or lock out or engage in any conduct in contemplation or furtherance of a strike or lock out unless: (a) The person, trade union or employer is not engaged in the provision of essential services.’ LEDAP, through its counsel, Mr. Chino Obiagwu, said the strike embarked upon by NMA since July 1 had violated the law. In its supporting affidavit, LEDAP argues that the NMA’s industrial action “has effectively paralysed the health sector and adversely affected the entire country as the citizens of Nigeria, the majority of whom cannot afford private medical care, are not able to access essential medical services at the government hospitals.” The group wants the court to determine “whether the NMA leadership should be held criminally liable for any death resulting from the said industrial action.” It maintained that the NMA should be held liable, adding that the Inspector General of Police should be made to investigate and prosecute NMA’s leadership for any death resulting from the industrial action.
Posted on: Thu, 07 Aug 2014 17:57:47 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015