The House of Representatives on Thursday blamed the Minister of Health, Dr. Onyebuchi Chukwu, for the failure to resolve the ongoing strike by the Nigerian Medical Association.
Chukwu failed to turn up for an intervention meeting called by the House Committee on Health in Abuja on Thursday.
The meeting was a follow-up to an earlier one held on Monday, where it was agreed that all the parties should return on Thursday to conclude deliberations and appeal to the NMA to suspend the strike.
But, on Thursday, Chukwu failed to show up for the meeting.
The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who did not attend the first meeting, also shunned that of Thursday again.
Other top officials of government, who shunned the meeting were the Head of Service of the Federation, Mr. Bukar Goni; and the Director General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Dr. Bright Okogu.
The Chairman of the committee, Mr. Ndudi Elumelu, expressed disappointment over the absence of the officials, saying that it demonstrated their unwillingness to get the doctors back to work and save the lives of ailing Nigerians.
Elumelu explained that the presence of each of the officials was needed to address specific issues raised by the doctors.
He added that some of the issues had to do with money, while others were administrative.
Elumelu said he was in shock that the health minister in particular could afford to stay away from the meeting.
At the earlier meeting, Chukwu was asked to withdraw a controversial July 4 circular on the appointment of Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, a key demand by the striking doctors.
He spoke further, “The minister of health is not ready to resolve the issues in the health sector with the NMA. This development is not encouraging, and we advise the Minister of health to show more concern in resolving the issues. This meeting is adjourned until he is ready to come and sit with us to discuss with the NMA.”
He informed the gathering that Chukwu had telephoned him to say that he would be elsewhere representing President Goodluck Jonathan.
“But, he assured me that the minister of state and the permanent secretary in the ministry would be here to address the issues. Well, as we can all see, they are not here. The Minister of Finance, the HOS and the DG, Budget Office, are also not here again.It becomes difficult for us to continue with the meeting,” he added.
The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Worgu, who attended the first meeting, also came for Thursday’s meeting.
However, Elumelu noted that there was nothing Worgu could do in the absence of his colleague in the health ministry.
At the plenary of the House, the Speaker, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, called on Elumelu to address members on the outcome of his committee’s efforts to resolve the doctors’ strike.
Elumelu stood up and simply briefed the House on the frustrations of his committee.
He reported that the relevant officials, particularly the health minister, shunned the committee’s meeting.
When asked what he (Elumelu) suggested should be the next line of action, the lawmaker replied that another opportunity could be given to the officials to appear before the committee.
“In the alternative, we can use the powers given to us by the 1999 Constitution as it relates to compelling persons summoned to answer committee questions,” he stated.
PUNCH
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