Unified Nigeria Youth Forum (UNYF) has condemned the indefinite strike embarked upon by resident doctors in the country.
The group also blamed the government at all levels in the country for not taking necessary steps to avert the strike, stressing that it would set the country’s health sector backward.
UNYF President, Abdulsalam Muhammad Kazeem, in a statement issued yesterday in Kaduna, said: “We appeal to the resident doctors to reconsider their step, as it will help save the lives of many common Nigerians who are presently receiving treatment in our various public hospitals across the nation.
“The resident doctors should please resume work with immediate effect, to re-affirm the oath they swore to protect the lives of human beings; it will help to control the outbreak of cholera in Borno state, and it will equally help the affected victims of Benue state flood disaster.”
Continuing, the statement read: “It is a national scandal and a national embarrassment on our nation considering the fact that the resident doctors are embarking on industrial action for the second time in 15 months on the same issue, ranging from inability of the government to pay their full salaries/allowances and their exclusion in the pension scheme, yet the federal government could foot the bogus medical bill of Mr. President in a London hospital for more than 100 days.
“We have carefully watched the way and manner most public officials/political office holders refused to show assistance/solidarity to the people of Benue state flood victims like they did during the campaign fund raising for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and All Progressives Congress, APC.
“We appeal to our professional footballers (both foreign and local) to raise fund through a charity football match with their colleagues in other parts of the world as well as national, multi-national and strong indigenous companies to come to the aid of our people in Benue state at this urgent time of need.”
It appealed to Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state to do all he could to ensure that “public schools are functioning very in order to compete favourably with international standards,” adding: “When that is done, the hope in our public schools will be restored in Kaduna state and Nigeria at large.”
